Researchers from Perm National Research Polytechnic University have explored how air carrying industrial dust particles travels through the human respiratory system. Their work aims to deepen understanding of how diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis begin and develop, offering new insights into respiratory health and disease progression. The investigation highlights how environmental dust and chemical pollutants influence respiratory function and how current medical diagnostics capture the patient’s condition at the moment of assessment.
The team developed a mathematical model to examine turbulent airflow containing solid dust particles of various shapes and sizes as it moves through the upper airways. The study used tomographic images from thirty healthy adults with no anatomical abnormalities to build a robust representation of nasal and pharyngeal structures. The model then simulated how warming the inhaled air affects the trajectory and deposition of dust particles when the ambient temperature ranges from -25 °C to +25 °C. This approach helps reveal how temperature modulation during breathing can alter particle behavior inside the nose and throat.
Findings indicate that the majority of larger particles, specifically those exceeding 10 micrometers in diameter, settle in the nasal cavity before they can reach the nasopharynx. In contrast, smaller particles are more likely to evade capture by the nasal mucosa and travel further into the airway. Quantitative results showed that about 68 percent of 5-7 micrometer particles and 47 percent of 4-5 micrometer particles deposit within the nasal cavity. Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers pose a greater risk as they can penetrate deeper into the lungs, where they may exert toxic effects and contribute to lower respiratory tract diseases.
The researchers explained that the nasal cavity’s intricate anatomy—with its curved pathways, protrusions, and irregularities—facilitates cleansing and warming of inhaled air. As air flows through this network, it is heated and conditioned before reaching the lungs, a process that helps reduce the likelihood of pathogen and irritant intrusion. However, some residual dust particles attach to mucous membranes and are gradually cleared from the body, while the tiniest fragments can bypass initial defenses and migrate into the lungs. The study’s lead scientist emphasized that the nasal system acts as a first line of defense, shaping the fate of inhaled particles as breathing continues.
These insights from Perm Polytechnic researchers pave the way for more detailed investigations into how air flow behaves inside the lungs under different physiological and environmental conditions. By refining the models of particle transport and deposition, scientists can better simulate how various respiratory diseases emerge, evolve, and respond to changes in breathing patterns, heat exchange, and air quality. Such simulations hold potential for improving preventive strategies, diagnostic approaches, and treatment planning for respiratory conditions across diverse populations.
Alongside this research, related efforts in Russia have focused on developing materials and processes to purify water from manganese and other heavy metals, illustrating a broader commitment to understanding how pollutants interact with human health and environmental systems. The ongoing work at Perm Polytechnic underscores a growing interdisciplinary effort to link environmental exposure, airflow dynamics, and respiratory health outcomes, offering a more integrated view of disease risk and prevention in industrial settings and everyday life.