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ANATOMICAL MODELING OF MICRODOSIMETRY OF INHALED PARTICLES IN THE LUNG
Citation:
Mercer, R. AND J. Crapo. ANATOMICAL MODELING OF MICRODOSIMETRY OF INHALED PARTICLES IN THE LUNG. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-90/161.
Description:
Determining the dose delivered to specific sites in the lungs is a critical first step in modeling the potential toxic effects of airborne pollutants. n important recent development in estimating site specific dosimetry has been combining sophisticated analytical models to determine the delivery of inhaled pollutants to the lungs with relatively simplistic anatomic models. hese methods are particularly important in extrapolating experimental results in laboratory animals to predict effects in humans. he goal in such modeling efforts is to characterize the average response of the lungs. owever, in evaluating lung pathology following low level, chronic exposures to reactive gases, one quickly becomes aware that the lesions are far from uniform. he presence of such patchy lesions resulting from chronic exposures of laboratory animals or lifetime exposures of humans to various environmental pollutants Is a frequent finding. he observation of a diseased area of the lung Immediately adjacent to a normal healthy region is so common that it almost stifles the question of why it occurs. iscovering why such punctate can be found next to healthy regions of apparently similar anatomic structure, will require dosimetric calculations on a much finer scale than previously carried out, combined with a critical consideration of the anatomic factors involved.