Air cleaners can reduce the risk of allergic sensitization (original) (raw)
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Effect of air filtration on house dust mite, cat and dog allergens and particulate matter in homes
Clinical and Translational Allergy
Background: Indoor allergens (i.e. from mite, cat and dog) are carried by airborne particulate matter. Thus, removal of particles would reduce allergen exposure. This work aims to assess the performance of air filtration on particulate matter and thus allergen removal in 22 bedrooms. Methods: Indoor air was sampled (with and without air filtration) with a cascade impactor and allergens were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Particulate matter (including ultrafine particles) was also monitored. Results: The median of allergen reduction was 75.2% for Der f 1 (p < 0.001, n = 20), 65.5% for Der p 1 (p = 0.066, n = 4), 76.6% for Fel d 1 (p < 0.01, n = 21) and 89.3% for Can f 1 (p < 0.01, n = 10). For size fractions, reductions were statistically significant for Der f 1 (all p < 0.001), Can f 1 (PM >10 and PM 2.5-10 , p < 0.01) and Fel d 1 (PM 2.5-10 , p < 0.01), but not for Der p 1 (all p > 0.05). PM was reduced in all fractions (p < 0.001). The allergens were found in all particle size fractions, higher mite allergens in the PM >10 and for pet allergens in the PM 2.5-10. Conclusions: Air filtration was effective in removing mites, cat and dog allergens and also particulate matter from ambient indoor air, offering a fast and simple solution to mitigate allergen exposome.
Eradication of house dust mite from homes of atopic asthmatic subjects: A double-blind trial
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2001
Background: House dust mite (HDM) allergens can accumulate to very high levels in homes. From the observed sensitivity of HDMs to heat and their allergens to steam, a novel treatment of furnishings has been developed. Objective: We sought to determine whether combined steam and heat treatment of home furnishings reduced asthmatic patients' bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and lowered HDM antigen loads. Methods: The homes of 30 asthmatic subjects aged 18 to 45 years were randomly allocated into 3 groups. In groups 1 and 2 mattresses and duvets were treated with hot air (110°C), followed by steam and then heat again. All their carpets were steam cleaned. Group 2 also had a special ventilation system installed above each patient's bedroom. The homes of subjects in group 3 were sham treated. Neither patient nor laboratory staff was aware of the types of treatment. Der p 1 and 2 levels in the household dust from the lounge, bedroom carpet, and beds were determined before and after treatment and then at 6 and 12 months. BHR, measured by using histamine PD 20 values, was recorded during the 4-week run-in period and at 3, 6, 9, 12 months after treatment. Results: Active heat-steam treatment of homes caused a sustained reduction of Der p 1 (P = .003) and Der p 2 (P = .001) compared with no change in sham-treated group 3 homes. Patients whose homes were treated showed a 4-fold reduction in BHR at 9 months in group 1 and throughout the posttreatment period in group 2. No change was observed in the asthmatic subjects whose homes were not treated. These improvements were sustained for 12 months in the homes with bedroom ventilation units. Conclusions: A single treatment of home furnishings reduced mite allergen load to below the risk level for sensitization and improved the asthmatic patients' BHR by 4-fold. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:55-60.)
A side-by-side comparison of three allergen sampling methods in settled house dust
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 2014
Understanding allergen exposure and potential relationships with asthma requires allergen sampling methods, but methods have yet to be standardized. We compared allergen measurements from dust collected from 200 households with asthmatics and conducted a side-by-side vacuum sampling of settled dust in each home's kitchen, living room and subject's bedroom by three methods (EMM, HVS4 and AIHA). Each sample was analyzed for dust mite, cockroach, mouse, rat, cat and dog allergens. The number of samples with sufficient dust mass for allergen analysis was significantly higher for Eureka Mighty Mite (EMM) and high volume small surface sampler (HVS4) compared with American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) in all rooms and surfaces tested (all Po0.05). The allergen concentration (weight of allergen divided by total weight of dust sampled) measured by the EMM and HVS4 methods was higher than that measured by the AIHA. Allergen loadings (weight of allergen divided by surface area sampled) were significantly higher for HVS4 than for AIHA and EMM. Cockroach and rat allergens were rarely detected via any method. The EMM method is most likely to collect sufficient dust from surfaces in the home and is relatively practical and easy. The AIHA and HVS4 methods suffer from insufficient dust collection and/or difficulty in use.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2000
Background: The relationship between exposure to house dust mite (HDM) allergens and prevalence of sensitization to these allergens in patients with asthma has been confirmed in many studies. Mite population growth is regulated by humidity. Reducing humidity and removing allergen by efficient vacuuming should control mite allergen and reduce symptoms. Objective: We sought to investigate the effect of mechanical ventilation and high-efficiency vacuuming on HDM numbers and Der p 1 concentrations in the homes of mite-sensitive asthmatic subjects and to evaluate the effect of any reductions on symptoms.
Exposure to house dust mite allergens and the clinical activity of asthma
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 1996
Background: House dust mite allergens play an important role in inducing IgE-mediated sensitization and the development of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and asthma. This study investigated the relationship between mite allergen exposure and the clinical activity and severity of asthma. Methods: Nonsmoking adult patients with asthma (n = 53) were randomly recruited from the asthma registry of two large family practitioner surgeries. Each participant underwent skin testing with common inhalant allergens, a methacholine bronchoprovocation test, and pulmonary function testing on up to 3 separate occasions over a 4-week period. BHR was expressed both as PDeo and dose-response ratio (DRR), and the patients with PD2o of less than 12.25/xmol methacholine were classified as methacholine reactors. Patients were also asked to record peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values at 2-hour intervals during waking hours for 1 month. Daily PEFR variability was calculated as amplitude percent mean. Dust samples were collected by vacuuming bedding, bedroom carpets and mattresses. In addition, in the homes of 32 subjects with positive skin test responses to mites, airborne samples were taken overnight for 8 hours with a personal sampler attached to each subject's pillow. Der p 1 and Der p 2 levels were determined by a two-site monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Results: No difference in mite allergen exposure was found between subjects who were sensitive to mites and those who were not. However, mite-sensitive methacholine reactors were exposed to significantly higher concentrations of Der p 1 in beds than mite-sensitive methacholine nonreactors (13.2/xg/gm and 1.45/xg/gm, respectively," p < 0.02). Der p 1 and Der p 2 were undetectable in 30 of 32 airborne samples. In mite-sensitive patients both Der p 1 and Der p 2 in beds significantly correlated with BHR (PDeo: r = -0.49, DRR, r = 0.49; PD2o: r = -0.46, DRR: r = 0.43) and amplitudepercent mean PEFR (r = 0.38, r = 0.41)for Derp 1 and Derp 2, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between exposure to Der p I and percent predicted FEV 1 (r = -0.43). The correlation between Der p 2 and percent predicted FEV z just failed to reach a significant level but showed a clear trend (r = -0.35, p = 0.068). Conclusions: Clinical activity and severity of asthma (measured by the level of BHR, PEFR variability, and percent predicted FEV1) in mite-sensitive patients is related to exposure to mite allergens in the dust reservoir, with levels in bed being an important indicator that correlated with disease activity. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996;98:64-72.) Evidence strongly suggests that the prevalence and severity of asthma is increasing, especially in children, in spite of the availability of effective treatment. 1 House dust mite allergens are a major cause of asthma worldwide, and 45% to 85% of patients with asthma in the United Kingdom show skin test reactivity to mites, as compared with 5% to 30% in the general population. 2 The importance of early exposure to mite allergen in primary sensitization has been suggested by recent studies. Household exposure to levels of Der p 1 greater than 2 Ixg/gm of dust J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL Custovic et al. 65 VOLUME 98, NUMBER 1 Abbreviations used BHR: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness CL: Confidence limits DRR: Dose-response ratio GM: Geometric mean PEFR: Peak expiratory flow rate
Clinical evaluation of a double-blind dust mite avoidance trial with mite-allergic rhinitic patients
Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 1991
Inheritance and allergen exposure are key factors in the development and the course of atopic allergy, expressed as conjunctivitis, rhinitis, asthma or dermatitis. This study concerns the clinical significance of mite and mite-allergen avoidance measures based on intensive cleaning with acaricide (solidified benzylbenzoate) added (10 dwellings), and without biocidal activity (10 other homes) as a control in a double-blind trial with matched pairs. Twenty subjects with persisting rhinitic complaints were selected. They lived in 20 different dwellings and were ail sensitized to pyroglyphid mites; 12 of them were also sensitized to stored product miles (Acari). Daily symptoms and medication score, guanine and dust exposure, total and mite-specific IgE in serum, eosinophilia in the blood and in the nasal smear, intracutaneous tests with house dust mite and storage mite extracts were compared in both pairs and groups. Acarological data, physiochemical aspects and exposure assessment are discussed in detail elsewhere. Symptom scores dropped significantly, as did the total IgE and exposure to dust and mite products in the acaricidal cleaner treatment group. After 1 year, the daily symptoms median was 47% (P= 0.025), total IgE was 38% (P=0.0049), and exposure to dust and mite products (guanine exposure) was 53% (P= 0.0449) better or lower than in the controls. Intensive cleaning, without acaricidal treatment performed twice a year, resulted in clinical improvement in four out of 10 subjects, of whom none became free of complaints. In the Acarosan treatment group (cleaning+ benzylbenzoate) eight out of 10 subjcets improved, in three cases subjective symptoms disappeared. The conclusion is that mite avoidance in homes can be carried out successfully with a special acaricidal cleaning formulation Acarosan.
International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2018
Household dust contains an array of constituents, including house dust mites (HDM) and the HDM allergen, Der p 1, which can cause sensitivities such as asthma and eczema. Vacuuming can help alleviate symptoms, yet little is understood about cleaning behaviour in different households. This pilot study investigated the contents of dust from four household types (students; over 65 s; and families with and without pets). This was then related to cleaning behaviours and perceptions of cleanliness. Our investigation found that HDMs and Der p 1 were present in all households and sampling locations, including participants' cars. The median Der p 1 was greatest in the living room, though results varied. Demographic group was a determinant for the number of human and pet hairs present in dust. Surprisingly, vacuuming was the most disliked task overall. This information requires consideration when developing cleaning products and advising individuals with dust-related health issues.