[The influence of age, sex and circadian rhythms on the nasal mucosal in the mucociliary clearance].

We have studied the nasal mucociliary transport in 115 normal persons between 5 and 85-years-old. Using vegetable charcoal powder method the transport time varies between 5 and 18 minutes. The mean transport time was 8.35 +/- 2.6 min. Transport time is not variable with age until sixty years, when transport slow down. The mucociliary clearance is faster in female (p = 0.018). In these individuals the transport time is less in the evening-hours (p = 0.01). In men no differences has been noted (p = 0.57).