Abstract
A mathematical model of inhaled aerosol particle deposition for children is presented and validated with data from two published experimental studies. The model accurately predicts deposition fraction (DF) in children as a function of particle size for particles in the size range 1–3 microns for both sedentary and exercise breathing conditions. When the experimental data are grouped according to age, the model is able to predict age-dependent trends in DF at the studied particle sizes under sedentary breathing conditions. The model predicts that when ventilatory conditions are held constant, age-dependent changes in morphology result in decreasing DF with age; however, under realistic conditions these changes may be masked by age-dependent changes in ventilation. Despite the fact that mean DF differs significantly from adult values only in children younger than 9, the model predicted that dose-per-surface area may still be greater in children due to smaller lung sizes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.