Alveolar clearance epithelial cell line

Once fibers and particles land on the airway and alveolar surfaces, the epithelial lining cells quickly respond. In the conducting airways, the mucociliary escalator rapidly transports the inhaled materials to the mouth where they can be swallowed or expectorated. This fast clearance compartment clears the great majority of inhaled particles within the first 24 hours post exposure, while the slow clearance compartment at the alveolar level retains a smaller proportion of the asbestos and silica (2). 

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