Analysis of aerosol deposition in the healthy human lung

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1981.10667624· OSTI ID:5704576

Garrard, C S; Gerrity, T R; Schreiner, J F; Yeates, D B

Wide variation in the pattern of deposition of inhaled aerosols has previously been described in both healthy and diseased humans. To investigate the factors responsible for such variation, the authors studied a group of 13 healthy nonsmoking subjects. On two occasions each subject inhaled a monodisperse 8.1 mm (mass median aerodynamic diameter) Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ aerosol labelled with /sup 99//sup m/Tc using a standardized breathing pattern. Pulmonary function was defined by tests of forced expiratory airflow. Total activity in the right lung at 0 hr and at 24 hr (24-hr percent retention) was measured using a gamma camera. Numerical indices of deposition pattern were derived in several ways from the initial gamma camera image of the right lung by comparing the ratio of activity within a mid- and peripheral lung region of interest, by analyzing the profile of radioactivity within a horizontal band across the right lung from the midline to the lung edge, and by analysis of a distribution histogram of activity within the whole lung (skew and kurtosis). The 24-hr percent retention of aerosol showed considerable intrasubject variability unlike the deposition indices. The various deposition indices were found to correlate with the 24-hr percent retention, FEV/sub 1.0/,FEV/sub 1.0//FVC%, and MMFR at varying levels of significance. Results indicate that the pattern of aerosol deposition in healthy humans is influenced by mild degrees of obstruction to airflow, as reflected by tests of forced expiratory airflow, increasing airways obstruction being associated with more central deposition of the inhaled aerosol. Deposition indices derived from the initial pattern of aerosol distribution within the lung may prove to be more reliable and sensitive than measurements of 24-hr percent retention in defining aerosol deposition pattern.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois, Chicago
• OSTI ID: 5704576
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 36:4; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CAMERAS
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DEPOSITION
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISPERSIONS
GAMMA CAMERAS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
ISOMERIC NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
SOLS
TECHNETIUM 99
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES