BACKGROUND: Eighty households in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia, were sampled for house-dust-mite allergen (Der p 1). Allergen levels vary greatly between houses within climate regions. The reasons for this are not well understood. METHODS: House-dust-mite allergen samples were collected on six occasions between March 1994 and February 1995. All participating households contained at least one child between 7 and 14 years with a total of 148 subjects, 53 of whom were asthmatic. A detailed house survey was performed during every sampling visit, and a dwelling questionnaire was completed. Relative humidity was measured at the time of sample collection. RESULTS: The median bed allergen level was 30 microg/g during the first sampling period. Significantly higher allergen levels were associated with wool bedding and inner-spring mattresses (P < 0.001). As estimated from a multiple linear regression model, up to 70% reduction in bed allergen levels may be achieved by avoiding wool bedding and inner-spring mattresses. Other risk factors for high allergen levels included high indoor relative humidity, presence of substantial visible mould growth, brick cladding, and concrete slab foundation of the house. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding wool bedding and replacing inner-spring mattresses with foam could substantially reduce bed allergen levels.
BACKGROUND: Eighty households in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia, were sampled for house-dust-mite allergen (Der p 1). Allergen levels vary greatly between houses within climate regions. The reasons for this are not well understood. METHODS: House-dust-mite allergen samples were collected on six occasions between March 1994 and February 1995. All participating households contained at least one child between 7 and 14 years with a total of 148 subjects, 53 of whom were asthmatic. A detailed house survey was performed during every sampling visit, and a dwelling questionnaire was completed. Relative humidity was measured at the time of sample collection. RESULTS: The median bed allergen level was 30 microg/g during the first sampling period. Significantly higher allergen levels were associated with wool bedding and inner-spring mattresses (P < 0.001). As estimated from a multiple linear regression model, up to 70% reduction in bed allergen levels may be achieved by avoiding wool bedding and inner-spring mattresses. Other risk factors for high allergen levels included high indoor relative humidity, presence of substantial visible mould growth, brick cladding, and concrete slab foundation of the house. CONCLUSIONS: Avoiding wool bedding and replacing inner-spring mattresses with foam could substantially reduce bed allergen levels.
Authors: Y Saijo; R Kishi; F Sata; Y Katakura; Y Urashima; A Hatakeyama; S Kobayashi; K Jin; N Kurahashi; T Kondo; Y Y Gong; T Umemura Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2004-09-09 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Jay Portnoy; Jeffrey D Miller; P Brock Williams; Ginger L Chew; J David Miller; Fares Zaitoun; Wanda Phipatanakul; Kevin Kennedy; Charles Barnes; Carl Grimes; Désirée Larenas-Linnemann; James Sublett; David Bernstein; Joann Blessing-Moore; David Khan; David Lang; Richard Nicklas; John Oppenheimer; Christopher Randolph; Diane Schuller; Sheldon Spector; Stephen A Tilles; Dana Wallace Journal: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 6.347
Authors: Robin M Whyatt; David E Camann; Patrick L Kinney; Andria Reyes; Judy Ramirez; Jessica Dietrich; Diurka Diaz; Darrell Holmes; Frederica P Perera Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2002-05 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Leslie Elliott; Samuel J Arbes; Eric S Harvey; Robert C Lee; Päivi M Salo; Richard D Cohn; Stephanie J London; Darryl C Zeldin Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-11-07 Impact factor: 9.031