The human head as a blunt aerosol sampler

Abstract

A mathematical model is developed of the human head to investigate the aspiration of particles by mouth and nose breathing. It is assumed that the particles are suspended without sedimentation in a fluid which is flowing past the head. The model potential problem is solved using a numerical approach and results are given for two cases, namely when the particles are assumed to (i) bounce off the sampler surface and (ii) adhere to the sampler surface. These results are compared with the existing experimental data. As this is a first attempt at mathematically modelling the problem for nose breathing a two-dimensional model is postulated and when comparing this model with a two-dimensional model for mouth breathing the results are found to be similar, thus in agreement with experimental evidence. The results are also found to display the same broad trends as the experimental data. From the similarity of the results for nose and mouth inhalation it appears that only one of the two situations needs to be considered and therefore the three-dimensional model of mouth breathing presented here could be adapted for a future study of human inhalation.