Comparison of computer simulations of total lung deposition to human subject data in healthy test subjects

A mathematical model was used to predict the deposition fractions (DF) of PM within human lungs. Simulations using this computer model were previously validated with human subject data and were used as a control case. Human intersubject variation was accounted for by scaling the base lung morphology dimensions based on measured functional residual capacity (FRC) values. Simulations were performed for both controlled breathing (tidal volumes [VT] of 500 and 1000 mL, respiratory times [T] from 2 to 8 sec) and spontaneous breathing conditions. Particle sizes ranged from 1 to 5 microns. The deposition predicted from the computer model compared favorably with the experimental data. For example, when VT = 1000 mL and T = 2 sec, the error was 1.5%. The errors were slightly higher for smaller tidal volumes. Because the computer model is deterministic (i.e., derived from first principles of physics), the model can be used to predict deposition fractions for a range of situations (i.e., for different ventilatory parameters and particle sizes) for which data are not available. Now that the model has been validated, it may be applied to risk assessment efforts to estimate the inhalation hazards of airborne pollutants.