Breath of pollutants: How breathing patterns influence microplastic accumulation in the human lung

Riaz, HH; Lodhi, AH; Munir, A; Zhao, M; Ali, MH; Sauret, E; Gu, YT; Islam, MS

Breath of pollutants: How breathing patterns influence microplastic accumulation in the human lung

Riaz, HH Lodhi, AH Munir, A Zhao, M Ali, MH Sauret, E Gu, YT Islam, MS

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 2025, 185
Issue Date:: 2025-04-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Riaz, HH
dc.contributor.author	Lodhi, AH
dc.contributor.author	Munir, A
dc.contributor.author	Zhao, M
dc.contributor.author	Ali, MH
dc.contributor.author	Sauret, E
dc.contributor.author	Gu, YT
dc.contributor.author	Islam, MS
dc.date.accessioned	2025-07-16T23:20:48Z
dc.date.available	2025-07-16T23:20:48Z
dc.date.issued	2025-04-01
dc.identifier.citation	International Journal of Multiphase Flow, 2025, 185
dc.identifier.issn	0301-9322
dc.identifier.issn	1879-3533
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188505
dc.description.abstract	Humans are likely exposed to indoor and outdoor microplastics due to increased plastic degradation processes in the last decade. When inhaled, these microplastics could lead to inflammatory and respiratory disorders. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of microplastic transport in the respiratory system; however, they often overlook the various breathing patterns, effects of particle shape and specific accumulation patterns in the tracheobronchial airways. This study uniquely investigates how microplastics of various shapes accumulate under different breathing flow rates and frequencies, providing new insights into their behavior within these critical airways. The key findings show that microplastic deposition is minimal at a low flow rate of 7.5 LPM and a cycle frequency of 0.5 Hz but increases significantly when the frequency drops to 0.25 Hz, especially in the main bronchus. Higher inhalation flow rates, such as 40 LPM, lead to greater microplastic deposition in the early generations of the tracheobronchial airways, including generations 1–8, with notable differences between the inhalation and exhalation phases. Smaller flow rates result in higher microplastic deposition in distal airways beyond generation 8. The risk of microplastic inhalation is higher in the right bronchi, with larger particles (4–10 μm) depositing more in the main bronchi at lower flow rates and smaller particles (1–3 μm) in the initial airways at higher flow rates. The findings of this study, including case-specific microplastic deposition hotspots, will contribute to the up-to-date knowledge on pollutant exposure and relevant preventive measures.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	International Journal of Multiphase Flow
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2025.105156
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Mechanical Engineering & Transports
dc.subject.classification	40 Engineering
dc.title	Breath of pollutants: How breathing patterns influence microplastic accumulation in the human lung
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	185
utslib.for	09 Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-07-16T23:20:40Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	185

Abstract:

Humans are likely exposed to indoor and outdoor microplastics due to increased plastic degradation processes in the last decade. When inhaled, these microplastics could lead to inflammatory and respiratory disorders. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of microplastic transport in the respiratory system; however, they often overlook the various breathing patterns, effects of particle shape and specific accumulation patterns in the tracheobronchial airways. This study uniquely investigates how microplastics of various shapes accumulate under different breathing flow rates and frequencies, providing new insights into their behavior within these critical airways. The key findings show that microplastic deposition is minimal at a low flow rate of 7.5 LPM and a cycle frequency of 0.5 Hz but increases significantly when the frequency drops to 0.25 Hz, especially in the main bronchus. Higher inhalation flow rates, such as 40 LPM, lead to greater microplastic deposition in the early generations of the tracheobronchial airways, including generations 1–8, with notable differences between the inhalation and exhalation phases. Smaller flow rates result in higher microplastic deposition in distal airways beyond generation 8. The risk of microplastic inhalation is higher in the right bronchi, with larger particles (4–10 μm) depositing more in the main bronchi at lower flow rates and smaller particles (1–3 μm) in the initial airways at higher flow rates. The findings of this study, including case-specific microplastic deposition hotspots, will contribute to the up-to-date knowledge on pollutant exposure and relevant preventive measures.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188505