A Novel Method for Inhalation Control of Workplace Anthropogenic Pollutant Particles

This in vitro study investigated electrically charging effect on the deposition of inhaled workplace anthropogenic pollutant particles (APP) in a hollow throat cast model. Many occupational lung diseases are associated with exposure to workplace dust particles and other pollutants. Since the human throat is an effective filter, this study devised a novel idea of charging particles, and studying their deposition in the throat. Simulated workplace aerosol particles were generated from a commercially available nebulizer, and charged by a corona charger. Charged and uncharged particles were allowed to pass through a polyester resin cast of cadaver based throat, a replicate of a human oropharyngeal region. The aerosol particles' size and charge distribution were characterized by an Electronic Single Particle Aerodynamic Relaxation Time (ESPART) analyzer before and after passing the throat cast. The ESPART operates on the principle of Laser Doppler Velocimetry to measure simultaneously aerodynamic diameter and electrostatic charge on a single particle basis and in real time. The study results revealed that electrically charging increased agglomeration of smaller particles and increased deposition. Deposition of charged particles increased with increasing particle size which can be explained as the effect of inertial impaction.