Age-specific human airway deposition of particulate matter in the population living near a coal mining area using the multiple-path particle dosimetry model
摘要
The multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model was used to estimate particulate matter (PM) deposition in human airways using size-segregated PM concentrations measured using a GRIMM aerosol spectrometer across different age groups: 3 and 28 months, 3, 8, 9, 14, 18, and 21 years. The average concentration (µg/m3) for the sampling period of PM10 was found to be 298 of PM2.5 was 84.4, and of PM1 was 54. Deposition fractions (DF) in human airways ranged from 66 to 77% for PM10, from 34 to 51% for PM2.5, and from 31 to 49% for PM1. PM10 mainly deposited in the head region (64.3%), whereas PM2.5 and PM1 (48%) showed greater deposition in the pulmonary region. Deposition vulnerability across PM sizes followed the order: 8-year > 9-year > 21-year > 18-year > 3-month > 14-year > 3-year > 28-month. The highest deposition mass (1.04 × 10−3 µg) for PM10 was observed in the 9-year age group, whereas for PM2.5 (8.66 × 10−5 µg) and PM1 (5.63 × 10−5 µg), the maximum deposition occurred in the 21-year age group. Similarly, the highest deposited mass per unit surface area was found in the 9-year age group (PM10: 18.3 µg/m2, PM2.5: 0.30 µg/m2, PM1: 0.15 µg/m2), while the lowest values were observed for PM10 in the 21-year group and for PM2.5 and PM1 in the 28-month group. Deposition in the lower lobes was 2.5 and 5 times higher than in the upper and middle lobes, respectively. The DF for all PM size categories was marginally higher in the right lung (RL) (51.33%) than in the left lung (LL) (48.66%). The tracheobronchial (TB) region clearance was much faster than the alveolar region. The findings provide important insights for developing targeted air pollution control and age-specific respiratory health protection strategies in mining-affected regions.