Modelling approaches to particle deposition and clearance in the human respiratory tract

Abstract

Dosimetry models for the estimation of particle deposition in the human respiratory tract (RT) in conjunction with clearance transport models are vital components to relate human exposure with internal dose in a quantitative manner. The current work highlights knowledge and modelling approaches on particle deposition and translocation in the human body in an effort to determine health risks in respect to different particle physicochemical properties and human physiology parameters. These include breathing conditions, variability of the geometry of the RT, chemical composition and size of deposits. Different dosimetry modelling approaches have been studied including empirical formulations, one-dimensional flow modelling and computational fluid dynamic methods (CFD). The importance of a realistic modelling of hygroscopicity has been also investigated. A better understanding of the relationship between health effects and inhaled particle dose may be elaborated using dosimetry and clearance modelling tools. A future required approach is to combine dosimetry models with physiologically based pharmacokinetic models (PBPK) to simulate the transport and cumulative dose of particle-bound chemical species in different organs and tissues of the human body.