How microplastics are transported and deposited in realistic upper airways?

Islam, MS; Rahman, M; Larpruenrudee, P; Arsalanloo, A; Beni, HM; Islam, A; Gu, Y; Sauret, E

How microplastics are transported and deposited in realistic upper airways?

Islam, MS Rahman, M Larpruenrudee, P

Arsalanloo, A Beni, HM Islam, A Gu, Y Sauret, E

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Publisher:: AIP Publishing
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Physics of Fluids, 2023, 35, (6), pp. 063319
Issue Date:: 2023-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Islam, MS
dc.contributor.author	Rahman, M
dc.contributor.author	Larpruenrudee, P https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3413-3667
dc.contributor.author	Arsalanloo, A
dc.contributor.author	Beni, HM
dc.contributor.author	Islam, A
dc.contributor.author	Gu, Y
dc.contributor.author	Sauret, E
dc.date.accessioned	2023-06-21T06:31:46Z
dc.date.available	2023-06-21T06:31:46Z
dc.date.issued	2023-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Physics of Fluids, 2023, 35, (6), pp. 063319
dc.identifier.issn	1070-6631
dc.identifier.issn	1089-7666
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170811
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p>Microplastics are tiny plastic debris in the environment from industrial processes, various consumer items, and the breakdown of industrial waste. Recently, microplastics have been found for the first time in the airways, which increases the concern about long-term exposure and corresponding impacts on respiratory health. To date, a precise understanding of the microplastic transport to the airways is missing in the literature. Therefore, this first-ever study aims to analyze the microplastic transport and deposition within the upper lung airways. A computational fluid dynamics-discrete phase model approach is used to analyze the fluid flow and microplastic transport in airways. The sphericity concept and shape factor values are used to define the non-spherical microplastics. An accurate mesh test is performed for the computational mesh. The numerical results report that the highly asymmetric and complex morphology of the upper airway influences the flow fields and microplastic motion along with the flow rate and microplastic shape. The nasal cavity, mouth-throat, and trachea have high pressure, while a high flow velocity is observed at the area after passing the trachea. The flow rates, shape, and size of microplastics influence the overall deposition pattern. A higher flow rate leads to a lower deposition efficiency for all microplastic shapes. The nasal cavity has a high deposition rate compared to other regions. The microplastic deposition hot spot is calculated for shape and size-specific microplastic at various flow conditions. The findings of this study and more case-specific analysis will improve the knowledge of microplastic transport in airways and benefit future therapeutics development. The future study will be focused on the effect of various microplastic shapes on the human lung airways under the healthy and diseased airways conditions.</jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	AIP Publishing
dc.relation.ispartof	Physics of Fluids
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1063/5.0150703
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.subject	01 Mathematical Sciences, 02 Physical Sciences, 09 Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Fluids & Plasmas
dc.title	How microplastics are transported and deposited in realistic upper airways?
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	35
utslib.for	01 Mathematical Sciences
utslib.for	02 Physical Sciences
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	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-06-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2023-06-21T06:31:44Z
pubs.issue	6
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	35
utslib.citation.issue	6

Abstract:

Microplastics are tiny plastic debris in the environment from industrial processes, various consumer items, and the breakdown of industrial waste. Recently, microplastics have been found for the first time in the airways, which increases the concern about long-term exposure and corresponding impacts on respiratory health. To date, a precise understanding of the microplastic transport to the airways is missing in the literature. Therefore, this first-ever study aims to analyze the microplastic transport and deposition within the upper lung airways. A computational fluid dynamics-discrete phase model approach is used to analyze the fluid flow and microplastic transport in airways. The sphericity concept and shape factor values are used to define the non-spherical microplastics. An accurate mesh test is performed for the computational mesh. The numerical results report that the highly asymmetric and complex morphology of the upper airway influences the flow fields and microplastic motion along with the flow rate and microplastic shape. The nasal cavity, mouth-throat, and trachea have high pressure, while a high flow velocity is observed at the area after passing the trachea. The flow rates, shape, and size of microplastics influence the overall deposition pattern. A higher flow rate leads to a lower deposition efficiency for all microplastic shapes. The nasal cavity has a high deposition rate compared to other regions. The microplastic deposition hot spot is calculated for shape and size-specific microplastic at various flow conditions. The findings of this study and more case-specific analysis will improve the knowledge of microplastic transport in airways and benefit future therapeutics development. The future study will be focused on the effect of various microplastic shapes on the human lung airways under the healthy and diseased airways conditions.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/170811