1D Network computational fluid dynamics for evaluating regional pressures in subjects with cement dust exposure

Minh Tam Tran; Quoc Hung Nguyen; Xinguang Cui; Kum Ju Chae; Sujeong Kim; Ji-Seung Yoo; Sanghun Choi

doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2025.112501

1D Network computational fluid dynamics for evaluating regional pressures in subjects with cement dust exposure

J Biomech. 2025 Jan 3:180:112501. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2025.112501. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Minh Tam Tran¹, Quoc Hung Nguyen¹, Xinguang Cui², Kum Ju Chae³, Sujeong Kim⁴, Ji-Seung Yoo⁵, Sanghun Choi⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University & IEDT, Daegu, South Korea.
² School of Aerospace Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
³ Department of Radiology, Institute of Medical Science, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, South Korea.
⁴ Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
⁵ School of Life Sciences, BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, South Korea.
⁶ School of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University & IEDT, Daegu, South Korea. Electronic address: s-choi@knu.ac.kr.

PMID: 39787770
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2025.112501

Abstract

Cement dust is a primary contributor to air pollution and is responsible for causing numerous respiratory diseases. The impact of cement dust exposure on the respiratory health of residents is increasing owing to the demand for construction associated with urbanization. Long-term inhalation of cement dust leads to a reduction in lung function, alterations in airway structure, increased inhalation and exhalation resistance, and heightened work of breath. In this study, we investigated the effects of cement dust exposure on lung function based on the pulmonary function test (PFT) and one-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (1D CFD). Statistical tests were performed to address the disparity of airway function between healthy and cement dust-exposed participants. The percent predicted values of forced vital capacity percent (FVC%) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁%) were found to be decreased in the group of dust-exposed participants. An elevation of regional pressure variation was found in cement dust-exposed airways during both inhalation and exhalation that was associated with alternations of airway structural features therein. The 1D CFD model is beneficial for a cost-effective estimation of airway regional pressure and provides valuable insights for more precise diagnosis and treatment planning in individuals exposed to cement dust.

Keywords: Airway; Cement dust; Computational fluid dynamics; Computed tomography; Lung.