A controlled intervention study concerning the effect of intended temperature rise on house dust mite load.
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2002, Vol 9, Issue 2
Abstract
In epidemiological studies, increased indoor temperature--producing a lower relative humidity--is associated with low house dust mite (HDM) load. Twenty-eight dwellings were allocated for either intervention (12/15 completed) or control (11/13 completed). In the intervention group, participants were asked to increase the bedroom temperature by at least 3 degrees C compared to the self-assessed temperature of the previous winter. Dust samples were repeatedly collected from mattress and floor, and bedroom temperature and relative humidity were recorded hourly throughout one year. Dust was analysed for allergen (Der f 1 + Der p 1 + Der m 1 = Der 1) by ELISA and HDMs were counted. Changes in mite and in mite allergen concentration were the same in the control and intervention groups, and measured temperatures did not differ during intervention period in the groups (18 degrees C and 19 degrees C). Groups turned out not to be comparable with respect to initial (self-assessed) bedroom temperature (lowest in the intervention group). There was a significant seasonal variation, with doubled Der 1 concentrations in dust collected in July-November compared to January-May samples. No effect was obtained on mites or mite allergens, but this may be due either to a general lack of effect of increase in bedroom temperature, or to an insufficient increase in temperature in our intervention group. Seasonal variations in HDM and HDM allergens must be accounted for when data on exposure are interpreted.
Authors and Affiliations
Kirsten E Sidenius, Thorkil E Hallas, Lars K Poulsen, Holger Mosbech
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP58742
- DOI -
- Views 160
- Downloads 0
The role of ghrelin, leptin and insulin in foetal development
introduction and objective. The growing epidemic of childhood obesity has forced scientists to search for methods to prevent feeding disorders. Increasing interest in appetite regulating hormones has revealed their influ...
First evidence of [i]Babesia venatorum[/i] and [i]Babesia capreoli[/i] in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic
Introduction and objective. [i]Ixodes ricinus[/i] is the most common tick species occurring in Central Europe and it serves as a principal vector of emerging human pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the pr...
Socio-economic conditionings of families with children treated due to scoliosis in Eastern Poland
Introduction and objective: Scoliosis is a serious clinical problem which requires a systematic physical therapy and control of body balance – treatment from the moment of achieving skeletal maturity by a child. In the s...
Occurrence of non-fermenting gram negative bacteria in drinking water dispensed from point-of-use microfiltration devices
Introduction and objective. Many devices have been marketed in order to improve the organoleptic characteristics of tap water resulting from disinfection with chlorine derivates. The aim of the presented study was to ass...
Prevalence of obesity – baseline assessment in the prospective cohort ‘PONS’ study
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population of Świętokrzyskie Province in Poland.Methods: Body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumfer...