Predictions of ozone absorption in human lungs from newborn to adult

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6748001

Overton, J H; Graham, R C

Dosimetry models for gases mainly have been used to predict absorption in adult humans and laboratory animals. The lack of lower respiratory tract (LRT) lung models for children has discouraged the application of theoretical gaseous dosimetry to this important sub-population. To fill this gap the authors have used several sources of data on age dependent LRT volumes, age dependent airway dimensions, a model of an adult tracheobronchial region, and a model of the adult acinus to construct theoretical LRT lung models for humans from birth to adult. An ozone (O{sub 3}) dosimetry model was then used to estimate the regional and local uptake of O{sub 3} in the (theoretical) LRTs of children and adults. For sedentary breathing, the LRT distribution of absorbed O{sub 3}, the percent uptake (76 to 85%), and the centriacinar O{sub 3} tissue dose are not very sensitive to age. For maximal work during exercise, predicted uptakes range from 83 to 91%, and the regional percent uptakes are more dependent on age than during quiet breathing. In general, total O{sub 3} absorption per minute increases with age. Regardless of age and state of breathing, the largest tissue dose of O{sub 3} is predicted to occur in the centriacinar region, where many animal studies show the maximal morphological damage due to O{sub 3}.

• Research Organization: Northrop Services, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6748001
• Report Number(s): PB-90-215914/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
BODY
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
EXERCISE
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METABOLISM
ORGANS
OZONE
PRIMATES
RESPIRATION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES