Abstract:
The presence of microplastics in the human respiratory system raises alarm regarding the adverse
effects on human health from the exposure of these particles to airway tracts. Microplastics are
byproducts of industrial processes and waste and are chemically hazardous for the human body.
Therefore, prediction of deposition patterns of inhaled particles can help in reevaluating risk
associated with these particles and indication of parts of human airways that are highly exposed to
these risks. In this thesis, a study was conducted on deposition patterns of microplastic particles in
human airways and the effect of airflow distribution on the deposition efficiency of these particles
inside human lungs. An MRI scanned realistic human lung model was prepared as a CAD
geometry on which CFD analysis was performed using DPM. Both spherical and non-spherical
particles were injected for analysis. Parametric study was conducted with varying flow-rates,
diameters and shape factors, the results of which can help in specifying parts of airways which can
be most affected by the deposition and thus can be targeted by drug delivery system for efficient
treatment.
