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

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 maximize 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. (authors)