Theoretical modeling of fine-particle deposition in 3-dimensional bronchial bifurcations
A theoretical model is developed for the prediction of the peak to average particle deposition flux in the human bronchial airways. The model involves the determination of the peak flux by a round-nose 2-dimensional bifurcation channel and the average deposition flux by a curved-tube model. The ''hot-spot'' effect for all generations in the human respiratory system is estimated. Hot spots are usually associated with the sites of bronchoconstriction or even chronic bronchitis and lung cancer. Recent studies indicate that lung cancer in smokers may be caused by the deposition of radioactive particles produced by the burning of tobacco leaves. High local concentrations of Po-210 have been measured in epithelium from bronchial bifurcations of smokes. This Po-210 is the radioactive daughter of Pb-210 which is produced from a long chain of radioactive decay starting from uranium in the fertilizer-enriched soil. It is found that the peak deposition flux is higher than the average deposition flux by a factor ranging between 5 and 30, depending on the generation number. The importance of this peak to average deposition flux ratio on consideration of environmental safety studies is discussed.
- Research Organization:
- State Univ. of New York, Buffalo
- OSTI ID:
- 6619898
- Journal Information:
- Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Vol. 39:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PARTICLES
AIR POLLUTION
BIOLOGICAL HOT SPOTS
CARCINOGENESIS
CONTAMINATION
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INHALATION
LEAD 210
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
PARTICLE SIZE
POLONIUM 210
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SOILS
TOBACCO SMOKES
URANIUM
ACTINIDES
AEROSOLS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
COLLOIDS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HAZARDS
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LEAD ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
METALS
NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
POLLUTION
POLONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
RESIDUES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIZE
SMOKES
SOLS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560170* - Radiation Effects- Nuclide Kinetics & Toxicology- (-1987)