Experimental determination of deposition of diesel exhaust particles in the human respiratory tract

► Respiratory tract deposition was measured for two types of agglomerated diesel soot particles. ► Deposition resembled that of spherical particles if regarded as a function of mobility diameter. ► Large inter-subject variability on lung deposition fractions were found. ► Associations found between total deposited fractions, tidal volume and breathing frequency. ► Particle effective density was measured and a methodology is presented assessing surface area.