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Levels of house‐dust‐mite allergen in homes of nonallergic people in Pavia, Italy
Author(s) -
Moscato G.,
Perfetti L.,
Galdi E.,
Pozzi V.,
Minoia C.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.00584.x
Subject(s) - living room , pyroglyphidae , allergen , dust mites , house dust mite , medicine , allergy , immunology , engineering , architectural engineering
Background: HDM distribution varies between geographic areas and may be affected by housing characteristics. We quantified Der p 1 and Der f 1 and assessed the relationships between their levels and housing characteristics in homes of nonallergic subjects. Methods: Der f 1 and Der p 1 were measured by ELISA in dust samples from living‐room floors and mattresses of 44 homes of nonallergic subjects in Pavia. Information about household characteristics was obtained by questionnaire. Results: Der p 1 and Der f 1 concentrations (μg/g dust, median) were 0.34 and 7.8 on mattresses, and 0.15 and 0.83 on living‐room floors. Higher Der f 1 levels on mattresses were associated with synthetic pillows ( P <0.05), and (only when expressed as μg/m 2 ) with bedding washing temperature of ≤60°C ( P <0.05). Der f 1 levels were higher on the living‐room floors of homes located on lower (≤first) floors ( P <0.05). Good correlations were found between Der p 1 and Der f 1 expressed as μg/g dust and μg/m 2 on both mattresses and living‐room floors. Conclusions: In homes of nonallergic subjects in northern Italy, Der f 1 exceeded the threshold for sensitization in a high proportion of mattress samples.