Deposition of Aerosol Particles in the Nasopharyngeal Region of the Human Respiratory Tract

Abstract

THE interest of those concerned in any way with the provision of protection against inhalation hazards, especially those associated with work with radioactive materials, has been stimulated by the publication of the report of the Task Group on Lung Dynamics for Committee II of the International Commission on Radiological Protection¹. Investigations in the Health Physics and Medical Division at AERE, Harwell, into the behaviour of inhaled radioactive aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract have started—with the cooperation of three volunteer subjects—with a study of deposition in the nasopharyngeal compartment. The experiments followed the somewhat artificial procedure of earlier investigators and aerosols were drawn through the nose and mouth at flow rates of 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 l./min while the subject held his breath.