Quantifying the distribution of inhalation exposure in human populations: distribution of minute volumes in adults and children.
Assessments of inhalation exposure to environmental agents necessitate quantitative estimates of pulmonary ventilation rates. Estimating a range of exposures in a given population requires an understanding of the variability of ventilation rates in the population. Distributions of ventilation rates (Ve) were described based on the results of a large study where Ve were measured while subjects performed a variety of physical tasks. Three distinct ventilation levels were identified using cluster analyses of the mean Ve and then various activities were assigned to the three levels using a k-means procedure. Separate distributions were identified for the three Ve levels for adult males, adult females, and children. The variability of Ve was consistent with a lognormal distribution for all groups. An aggregate daily inhalation rate can be estimated based on the distributions of Ve.
Beals
J A
JA
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Portland State University, Portland Oregon 97207, USA.
Funk
L M
LM
Fountain
R
R
Sedman
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001835:Body Weight; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000393:Air Pollutants