Study of dust deposition pattern in the respiratory tract of dust particles less than 10 μm in size

Abstract

The turbulent disturbances of airflow at different respiratory intensities influence the deposition characteristics of dust. The dust concentration during inhalation is 62.3% higher than that during exhalation. During the respiratory process, the turbulent disturbance phenomenon in the inspiratory phase has a dominant influence on dust deposition. At a respiratory intensity range of 15–45 L/min, the final deposition of particles is mainly influenced by the inhalation airflow, while in the range of 60–90 L/min it is mainly influenced by the exhalation airflow. Particle size affected the deposition characteristics, with the deposition of 7.07-μm dust greatly affected by airflow conditions, with a variation in the deposition rate of 56.3%. As the particle size increased, particles less than 10 μm were more frequently deposited in the right nasal cavity (which has an open spatial structure) than the left nasal cavity, as well as in the thick and short right bronchus.