Clearance of Large Carbon Particles from the Human Tracheobronchial Tree1,2

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Abstract
A technique is described whereby carbon particles of known large size are labeled with a radioisotope (I131) and delivered to the tracheobronchial tree of unanesthetized humans. The disappearance of labeled radioactivity from a field over the trachea and main stem bronchi was measured. It was demonstrated in preliminary observations that the clearance of carbon particles is faster in normal subjects than in subjects with chronic lung disease. The influence of cough upon clearance in both normal subjects and patients with chronic lung disease was observed.