Distribution of aerosol particles in exhaled air.

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Abstract
The concentration of aerosol particles of about 0.5 [mu] diameter has been instantaneously monitored in the expired air following the inspiration of a single breath of aerosol. The results show that the major factor controlling the distribution of inhaled gases in the alveolar air is the process of molecular diffusion. Only about 15% of the inhaled air is mixed by mechanical means during breathing and this fraction is little affected by changes in the depth or in the rate of breathing. After an inspiration of 500 ml of aerosol all the particles could be recovered by a maximal exhalation-suggesting that the first steps in the pulmonary deposition of aerosols is in the transfer of particle from the tidal air to the lung air. Following a single inhalation of aerosol the end-expired air was shown to be free of particles.