Human subject age and activity level: factors addressed in a biomathematical deposition program for extrapolation...

A deterministic aerosol deposition model, previously validated by data from adult inhalation exposure experiments, is used to study particle deposition within the developing human lung. Here, two age-dependent lung morphologies are presented, in which the number of tracheobronchial (TB) generations is complete at birth but airway dimensions vary with age; the number of pulmonary (P) generations, however, changes with age, as do the alveolated airway dimensions. Deposition patterns within the two morphologies are compared. For the light and heavy respiratory-activity levels considered, regional TB and P, and total (TB + P) lung deposition fractions are calculated. For all particle sizes (0.2-9.0 microns diameters) tested, total deposition in both morphologies was minimal for the 30-y-old adult and maximal for either of the youngest subjects (7 and 22 mo old). A breakdown of total deposition into lung compartments was specifically addressed for one morphological model. Age-dependent deposition models are intended to aid in future extrapolation efforts to assess the threat to human health from airborne contaminants.