A simple online tool to predict where particles end up in the human lungs

What is it about?

When we inhale air, tiny particles—such as pollutants, nanoparticles, or chemicals—enter our lungs. Where these particles settle (for example, in the upper airways or deep lung regions) strongly affects their impact on health. In this study, we developed LungDepo, a computational model available through the Enalos Cloud platform, to predict how particles deposit in different regions of the human lung. The model simulates the journey of inhaled particles and estimates how much of them accumulates in specific lung compartments. LungDepo takes into account key factors such as particle size, breathing conditions, and physicochemical properties. By using a compartmental modeling approach, it provides fast and realistic predictions of particle distribution without requiring complex simulations or experimental data. The tool is designed to be user-friendly and accessible online, allowing researchers to perform simulations easily and obtain results in a short time.

Featured Image

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Photo by Robina Weermeijer on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Airborne particles—including pollutants, engineered nanoparticles, and chemicals like PFAS—pose significant risks to human health, particularly through inhalation exposure. This work is important because it provides a fast, accessible, and reliable way to assess where inhaled particles are likely to deposit in the lungs, which is a key step in understanding their potential toxicity. The tool can support risk assessment, regulatory evaluation, and the design of safer materials by predicting exposure outcomes before conducting experiments. It also reduces the need for animal testing and complex laboratory studies. Additionally, LungDepo can be used in combination with other models (e.g., toxicity prediction tools), contributing to integrated approaches for assessing human health risks.

Perspectives