The role of dispersion in particle deposition in human airways.

Abstract

Aerosol dispersion and deposition are processes that occur concurrently in human airways. However, dispersion has not been properly accounted for in most deposition models. In this paper we have incorporated the latest understanding of dispersion into a dosimetry model and study the influence of dispersion on particle deposition in the lung. We show that dispersion influences the total deposition of inhaled particles and in particular increases the pulmonary deposition of fine mode particles. We also discuss how dispersion can help elucidate a number of clinical and epidemiologic results associated with particle deposition in the lung.