The retention of aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract as a function of particle radius.

Abstract

A water--glycerol aerosol of /sup 24/NaCl (approx. 500 mg/m/sup 3/) was inhaled by 7 volunteers to assess retention of monodispersed aerosols in human respiratory tract. Various particle sizes were tested; dispersion method was thought to be effective. Alveolar retention shows two peaks in the 0.3 to 1 ..mu..m range. Maximum alveolar retention is approx. 45%. Total retention decreased linearly with breathing rate, increased linearly with radius from 0.2 to 1.6 ..mu..m.