The fate of inhaled aerosols: a review of observed trends and some generalizations

This paper draws together the various factors which govern the fate of inhaled particulate matter, focusing primarily on insoluble material. It includes a review of some of the key relevant experimental physical data which have led to our current state of understanding about the physical processes by which particles enter the body through the nose and/or mouth during breathing and by which they may be deposited in the various regions of the respiratory tract. It goes on to review the biological (and biophysical) data relevant to the processes by which the lung tries to eliminate the deposited material and discusses how the knowledge gained might be used as a basis for pharmacokinetic models for describing the fate of the inhaled material. Finally, the paper suggests how the cumulative body of knowledge might be used as a starting point for dosimetric models for the assessment of risk to health associated with aerosol inhalation in the occupational environment.