Further study of the effect of particle size on slow particle clearance from the bronchial tree

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry 2007-01, Vol.127 (1-4), p.35-39
• Main Authors: Smith, J. R. H., Bailey, M. R., Etherington, G., Shutt, A. L., Youngman, M. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols - analysis; Aerosols - pharmacokinetics; Computer Simulation; Humans; Inhalation Exposure - analysis; Lung - metabolism; Metabolic Clearance Rate; Models, Biological; Organ Specificity; Particle Size; Radiation Dosage; Radioisotopes - analysis; Radioisotopes - pharmacokinetics; Radiometry - methods; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0144-8420; 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncm401

The ICRP human respiratory tract model (HRTM) assumes that the ‘slow-cleared fraction’ fs in the bronchial (BB) and bronchiolar (bb) regions decreases with increasing particle geometric diameter dp. To test this assumption, five volunteers inhaled 8-µm aerodynamic diameter, dae, 111In-polystyrene (PSL) and 198Au particles simultaneously. The particles were administered at the end of each breath to maximise deposition in BB and bb. Because of the difference in densities (1.05 vs. 19.3 g cm–3), corresponding dp values are ∼8 and 1.8 µm, and fs values are ∼2 and 50%, respectively. However, lung retention was somewhat greater for PSL than for gold, contrary to the HRTM prediction. Other recent human experimental studies found no difference in retention for particles with the same dae but different dp values. It is concluded that the HRTM model of particle clearance from BB and bb needs revision.