Abstract
Evidence derived from in vivo and in vitro laboratory experiments, controlled human exposure studies, and epidemiological studies on mortality and morbidity point to a positive correlation between acid aerosol inhalation and lung impairment. The lung has two important lines of defense against acid aerosols: 1) neutralization by oral or nasal airway ammonia and 2) buffering by mucus lining of the airway. A mathematical model is developed to study the growth and endogenous ammonia neutralization of sulfate-containing aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract. It is shown that an accurate prediction of the luminal ammonia concentration and relative humidity in each generation is essential for quantifying the degree of neutralization of the acidic particles. The model predicts substantial growth and neutralization for small particles (<0.1 μm), whereas larger particles (>1.0 μm) experience negligible neutralization. The predicted neutralization of intermediate-sized particles depends on the parameter values used in the model. Water supersaturations that occur in the respiratory tract when ambient conditions are cool and humid cause rapid particle growth and consequently enhance neutralization. Thus the neutralization depends on the particle size as well as on ambient conditions.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 480-490 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Physiology |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| State | Published - Jul 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- acid aerosol
- endogenous ammonia
- lung
- mathematical modeling
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Endocrinology
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Cite this
Growth and neutralization of sulfate aerosols in human airways. / Sarangapani, Ramesh; Wexler, Anthony S.
In: Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol. 81, No. 1, 07.1996, p. 480-490.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth and neutralization of sulfate aerosols in human airways
AU - Sarangapani, Ramesh
AU - Wexler, Anthony S.
PY - 1996/7
Y1 - 1996/7
N2 - Evidence derived from in vivo and in vitro laboratory experiments, controlled human exposure studies, and epidemiological studies on mortality and morbidity point to a positive correlation between acid aerosol inhalation and lung impairment. The lung has two important lines of defense against acid aerosols: 1) neutralization by oral or nasal airway ammonia and 2) buffering by mucus lining of the airway. A mathematical model is developed to study the growth and endogenous ammonia neutralization of sulfate-containing aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract. It is shown that an accurate prediction of the luminal ammonia concentration and relative humidity in each generation is essential for quantifying the degree of neutralization of the acidic particles. The model predicts substantial growth and neutralization for small particles (<0.1 μm), whereas larger particles (>1.0 μm) experience negligible neutralization. The predicted neutralization of intermediate-sized particles depends on the parameter values used in the model. Water supersaturations that occur in the respiratory tract when ambient conditions are cool and humid cause rapid particle growth and consequently enhance neutralization. Thus the neutralization depends on the particle size as well as on ambient conditions.
AB - Evidence derived from in vivo and in vitro laboratory experiments, controlled human exposure studies, and epidemiological studies on mortality and morbidity point to a positive correlation between acid aerosol inhalation and lung impairment. The lung has two important lines of defense against acid aerosols: 1) neutralization by oral or nasal airway ammonia and 2) buffering by mucus lining of the airway. A mathematical model is developed to study the growth and endogenous ammonia neutralization of sulfate-containing aerosol particles in the human respiratory tract. It is shown that an accurate prediction of the luminal ammonia concentration and relative humidity in each generation is essential for quantifying the degree of neutralization of the acidic particles. The model predicts substantial growth and neutralization for small particles (<0.1 μm), whereas larger particles (>1.0 μm) experience negligible neutralization. The predicted neutralization of intermediate-sized particles depends on the parameter values used in the model. Water supersaturations that occur in the respiratory tract when ambient conditions are cool and humid cause rapid particle growth and consequently enhance neutralization. Thus the neutralization depends on the particle size as well as on ambient conditions.
KW - acid aerosol
KW - endogenous ammonia
KW - lung
KW - mathematical modeling
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030035739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030035739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
VL - 81
SP - 480
EP - 490
JO - Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - Journal of Applied Physiology
SN - 8750-7587
IS - 1
ER -