March 3, 2008
Cleaning House Makes Life Easier for Asthmatics
 
Cleaning a house of allergens can alleviate the symptoms of asthmatics, according to a national survey from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the University of Iowa and two commercial firms. The researchers found a relationship between high allergen levels and the presence of asthma symptoms. Since most people spend most of their time indoors, indoor allergen exposures are of great importance, according to Dr. Darryl Zeldin of the institute and lead author of the study. Twenty-two million Americans suffer from asthma, and 52 percent of American homes have at least six detectable allergens, including those from dogs, cats, fungus, rodents, cockroaches, and dust mites. Forty-six percent of homes had at least three allergens at an increased level. Race, income, type of home and the source of the allergens (pets, for instance) contributed to increased concentration. Homes with children, however, tended to have fewer allergens because they were cleaned more often. “Although homes cannot be made allergen-free, asthmatics that have allergies may need to do a better job in reducing allergen levels in their homes to improve asthma control,“ said Dr. Päivi Salo of NIEHS. The study is published online in the March issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2008/levels.cfm