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Behaviour of magnetic micro-particles in the human lung

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Abstract

Magnetic micro-particles were used to investigate the defence system of the human lungs against foreign material. Afterprimary magnetisation a remanent magnetic field (RMF) of the lung can be measured that allows estimation of the amount of dust retained in the lung. After calibration of the system with a lung phantom the magnetic contamination retained in the lungs of dental technicians and welders was estimated at mean values of 22 and 500 mg respectively. In normal controls only 0.3 mg was found. About 0.5 mg of spherical monodisperse magnetite particles was deposited in the alveolar region of the lung by voluntary inhalation. The decay of the RMF, calledrelaxation, results from a misalignment of the dipole particles due to the activity of pulmonary macrophages. This macrophage activity is characterised by a cellular energyE z. With aseconary magnetisation the lung can be remagnetised by rotation of the dipole particles. This allows an estimation of the intracellular viscoelasticity and the motility of the alveolar macrophages in vivo. Secondary magnetisation and relaxation curves of spherical monodisperse magnetite particles are presented. Intracellular viscosity was estimated to beη ≅ 100 Pa·s at shear rates near 0.01 s−1, the rigidity modulus beingv ≅4–8 Pa. Macrophage activity was described by a cellular energyE z ∼ 5·10−18 J. Additionally, non-magnetic aerosol exposure resulted in a faster relaxation, which was interpreted to be due to activation of the macrophages. The magnetite particles were cleared with a half-time of ≈ 110 days.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. GSF - Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, Institut fur Biophysikalische Strahlenforschung, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 20, D-60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Willi Stahlhofen & Winfried Möller

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  1. Willi Stahlhofen
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  2. Winfried Möller
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Dedicated to Professor Wolfgang Jacobi on the occasion of his 65th birthday

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Stahlhofen, W., Möller, W. Behaviour of magnetic micro-particles in the human lung. Radiat Environ Biophys 32, 221–238 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01209772

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01209772

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