粉塵在肺部沉積研究的回顧

Deposition of Particles in the Human Respiratory Tract: A Review

作業環境中的粉塵可通過工作人員的口及鼻腔而進入肺部。粉塵在呼吸道中之不同區域的沉積量並不相同，其健康效應亦隨沈積位置及沈積量之不同而異。影響粉塵沉積量的因素主要為：（1）呼吸道的結構；（2）潮氣體積（tidal volume）和呼吸頻率（breathing frequency）；（3）微粒的物理與化學特性。本文的主要目的在於回顧粉塵在肺部沉積的研究，並根據回顧資料提出今後研究方向。

Workplace aerosols may enter a worker's lungs through his mouth or nose. The rate at which inhaled particles deposit in the respiratory tract varies from region to region. The health effects of deposited particles depend on the rate as well as the site of deposition. Factors influencing the rate of deposition include: (1) the morphometry of the respiratory tract, (2) the tidal volume and the breathing frequency, and (3) the physical and the chemical properties of the particles. This article reviews the important aspects of past studies on deposition of particles in the human respiratory tract and proposes some critical areas for future study.