The effect of aerosol charge on the deposition and clearance of TiO2 particles in rats.

A titanium dioxide aerosol when generated by a Wright dust feed will have a higher electrostatic charge by a factor of 5.5 than one which has been discharged by a bipolar ion field produced by a 7.5 mCi 85Kr source. The deposition of particles in the lung of rats was lower by approximately 21% when an aerosol discharger was used. Particle clearance from the lung alveoli was not affected by the use of the discharger.