Penetration of tagged pollen grains in the human bronchial tree
Soler, M.; Robert, M.; Anfosso, F.; Le Bouffant, L.
Bulletin Europeen de Physiopathologie Respiratoire 16(2): 127-134
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0395-3890 PMID: 7214048 Document Number: 164126
The possible pollen grain penetration in the tracheo-bronchial tree was researched by the radioisotopic method. The radioactivity diffusion at the upper level of the trachea was studied by the inhalation of 99mTc tagged pollens. The detected radioactivity was the result of 2 components: the activity of pollens in process of clearance in the tracheo-bronchial area and the activity of pollens deposited in the bucco-pharyngeal cavity and passing through the esophagus. To differentiate them, the kinetics of pulmonary clearance and of digestive elimination were statistically compared. In 6 out of 10 cases, a penetration of pollen grains in the tracheal area of the respiratory tract was demonstrated.