Size distribution and lung deposition of particle mass generated by indoor activities

Particle inhalation is associated with adverse respiratory outcomes including death. Particle deposition in the respiratory tract and therefore the type and severity of health outcomes depend on size that varies by type and source. The size distribution of particle mass generated by indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, visitors, smoking and candle/incense burning was monitored in this study using a real-time cascade impactor system was measured. Particle mass measurements allow for the direct estimation of dose. The KDEP lung deposition model was used to determine the fractional deposition of particle mass in lung regions in adult males and females for each indoor activity. The average dose rate was higher for cleaning, cooking and having visitors than that computed for hookah smoking, candle and incense burning. The deposition rates for females were higher than those measured for males during cleaning, cooking and visitors, while the male deposition rates were higher than those estimated for females during smoking and candle, incense burning. The majority of particles settled in the alveolar region of lungs in males, as compared to the extrathoracic region in females. Overall, this study demonstrated that exposures to different particle size distribution vary by sex, which may have implications for different health outcomes for males and females.