Relationships of aerosol deposition, lung size, and the rate of mucociliary clearance

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1986.9935759· OSTI ID:5681454

Gerrard, C S; Gerrity, T R; Yeates, D B

Although the effect of deposition pattern of an inhaled aerosol upon subsequent mucociliary clearance is well recognized, the influence of lung size on the rate of clearance has not been clearly defined. To examine the relationships of lung size in terms of the forced vital capacity (FVC) and aerosol deposition pattern to the rate of mucociliary clearance, we measured lung retention of an inhaled 8-micron aerosol for 120 min using a gamma camera in 13 healthy nonsmoking volunteers. The deposition pattern of the inhaled aerosol was defined in terms of the initial skew of the distribution of retained activity within the right lung (skew) and the percent retained at 24 hr (R24). Multiple regression analysis showed that FVC was responsible for approximately 36% of the variability in bronchial retention with time, with a lesser contribution from variations in deposition pattern (skew and R24). Mucociliary clearance was significantly slower (i.e., greater bronchial retention) in male subjects than in female subjects which can probably be attributed to the differences in FVC. Variations in lung sizes as well as deposition pattern should therefore be considered when making between subject comparisons of the mucociliary clearance rate.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois, Chicago
• OSTI ID: 5681454
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500* -- Metabolism
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AEROSOLS
BODY
CLEARANCE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EXCRETION
INHALATION
INTAKE
IRON
LUNG CLEARANCE
LUNGS
MATHEMATICS
METALS
ORGANS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RETENTION
SIZE
SOLS
STATISTICS
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS