Inspiratory deposition of ultrafine particles in human nasal replicate cast

• Published in: Journal of aerosol science 1992, Vol.23 (1), p.65-72
• Main Authors: Swift, David L., Montassier, Nathalie, Hopke, Philip K., Karpen-Hayes, Kim, Cheng, Yung-Sung, Yin Fong Su, Hsu Chi Yeh, Strong, John C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; General pharmacology; Medical sciences; Pharmacokinetics. Pharmacogenetics. Drug-receptor interactions; Pharmacology. Drug treatments
• ISSN: 0021-8502; 1879-1964
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-8502(92)90318-P

The deposition of particles in replicate cast models of the human nasal cavity has been measured in three different laboratories for a range of particle sizes from 0.6 to 200 nm. The results of these measurements on four different casts can be fit by a single equation of the form η=1 − exp [−bQ − 1 8 D 1 2 ], where η is the fraction of particles deposited in the nasal cavity, Q is the volumetric flow rate (1 min −1), D is the particle diffusion coefficient (cm 2s −1), and b is found to be 12.65 ± 0.17. The measurements were conducted over a range of flow rates from 1.4 to 28.71 min −1 (501 min −1 for sizes from 4.6 to 200 nm) using radon and thoron decay product aerosols as well as larger ultrafine particles. These results thus represent a current best estimate of the diffusional deposition of ultrafine particles in the human nasal cavity.