Applied mathematical modeling for calculating the probability of the cell killing per hit in the human lung

Abstract

The calculating the probability of the cell killing per hit, from radon progeny, requires the development of morphometric model of the human airway system. This study is focused on the different modeling concept. For example, several morphometric lung models have been published which differ in terms of airway structure and lung volume, there by affecting the particle deposition efficiencies. The present variety of modeling concepts suggests that the choice of specific modeling assumptions is as important for dose risk estimates as the choice of proper parameter values. The model of human lung analysed in the present study differ from those employed in the ICRP66 model, dose estimates will consequently differ from ICRP66 predictions, because its included the area of the branching the cylinders (airways tube) in the human lung. A analytical model cylinder bifurcation was created to simulate the geometry of human lung with the geometric distribution of cell nuclei in the airway wall of the tracheobronchial tree. Reported probabilities are calculated for various targets and alpha particle energies in order to show dependence of the probability of cell killing per hit from alpha particle energies and the geometry of tracheobronchial tree for the human lung, created in this study. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2011.