| A Closer Examination of the Dust Mite | | | | electric blanket for eight hours every day can |
| The dust mite's mouth parts are grouped in front | | | | reduce dust mites in beds significantly. Heating |
| of the body, resembling a head. Their body is oval | | | | blankets in a cloths dryer for several hours also |
| and covered with fine striations. Their eight tiny | | | | kills mites. By doing this, dry cleaning or washing |
| legs have small sticky pads which enable them to | | | | of blankets can be reduced to once a year. |
| burrow deep into carpet fibers and furniture, | | | | Reducing Exposure to Allergens in All Your Rooms |
| easily resisting the pull of even the most powerful | | | | Wall to wall carpet and upholstered surfaces can |
| vacuum cleaners. You definitely would not want to | | | | be reduced or replaced with hard surfaces that |
| turn over in your bed and find yourself face to | | | | are easier to clean. Dust mites can not survive |
| face with one of these strange looking creatures. | | | | long on hard surfaces due to dehydration. They |
| Unfortunately, that is where their populations are | | | | absorb water through contact with their |
| often the highest. The average bed can easily | | | | environment. Dusting with a ULPA or HEPA |
| have over 10,000 dust mites living in it. Dust mites | | | | filtered vacuum cleaner or specially treated cloths |
| do not bite, sting or transmit diseases, so they | | | | is recommended over damp mopping. The latter |
| pose no harm except to people who are allergic | | | | may increase the humidity in the house. Dust |
| to a protein they produce. Their numbers have | | | | mites can't live at humidities below 50%. Using air |
| increased dramatically in the past 20 to 30 years, | | | | conditioners and dehumidifiers during the summer |
| especially during the winter months, partly due to | | | | to keep the humidity between 40% and 50% is |
| tighter homes where ventilation is limited and | | | | often recommended. During winter, if using a |
| temperatures tend to be warmer. | | | | humidifier, be careful to keep the humidity in this |
| Egg-laying female mites can increase the | | | | same range. A good humidity gauge can help |
| population by 25 to 30 every three weeks. They | | | | monitor this. Carpets that get damp on a regular |
| go through five stages in their life cycle; from | | | | basis should be replaced with hard surfaces. |
| egg, the larvae stage, then two nymphal stages, | | | | Having carpets professional cleaned with |
| and finally the adult. The adult may also molt once. | | | | superheated steam will effectively killing dust |
| This cycle from egg to the adult takes about one | | | | mites in them. Carpets can be treated with |
| month. Adult mites can live up to two months, | | | | sprays containing 3% tannic acid to make dust |
| depending on the humidity levels and | | | | mite droppings non- allergic. Benzyl benzoate |
| temperatures of their environment. They do not | | | | powder which actually kills dust mites is also |
| drink water but they absorb moisture from the | | | | available. Reduction of contact with dust mite |
| air and their environment. They just love higher | | | | droppings is often preferred since these contain |
| relative humidities of 70-80% and temperatures | | | | toxic chemicals which some people are sensitive |
| of 75-80 degrees F in which their development | | | | to. |
| and food consumption increases. | | | | Reducing Exposure to Allergens with Air Filters |
| Dust Mites Produce a Powerful Allergen | | | | Wearing a well fitting dust mask while vacuuming |
| It is the protein DER p1 in the faecal products and | | | | and making beds can reduce the dust mite |
| disintegrating body parts of these minute dust | | | | allergens you inhale. Some allergists even |
| mites that has a mighty adverse effect on those | | | | recommend airing out a room really well after |
| who are allergic to it. Dust mites produce about | | | | vacuuming to reduce the airborne particles which |
| 20 pellets per day, each measuring about 10 to | | | | are stirred up by many vacuum cleaners. Furnace |
| 24 microns in size. To put that in perspective, the | | | | mounted and portable air cleaners are available |
| diameter of the human hair measures 80-100 | | | | but their cost may be greater than the benefits |
| microns. A gram of dust can hold 250,000 of | | | | achieved by them. They definitely are not a |
| these minute droppings. They are so tiny and light | | | | substitute for the preventative measures |
| that they float easily into the air when disturbed | | | | described above. The best are media type filters |
| by our daily activities. Inhaling these minute | | | | like those which meet the stringent HEPA |
| particles causes allergic reactions in those who are | | | | specification. Electrostatic filters are not |
| sensitive to this protein. | | | | recommended unless cleaned regularly in which |
| Allergens from the dust mite which cause | | | | case they may be as effective. Special filters can |
| asthmatic symptoms was first suggested in 1921 | | | | be placed on the furnace air vents leading to your |
| but analysis of dust did not happen until 1964 | | | | rooms to help trap allergens before they can |
| when a group led by Voohorst suggested that a | | | | enter the room. Air cleaners which generate |
| mite may be responsible for the dust allergen. It | | | | ozone should be avoided since they have little |
| was soon established that the dust mite droppings | | | | effect on allergens in the air and may worsen |
| contain an allergen so they became a focus over | | | | allergy symptoms since the ozone may irritate |
| the years for their involvement with respiratory | | | | the respiratory system. |
| ailments. The DER p1 produced by the dust mite | | | | Importance of an ULPA or HEPA Filtered Vacuum |
| is though to be the most important allergen | | | | Cleaner |
| associated with asthma. About 10% of the | | | | The vacuum cleaner is one of the most important |
| population are allergic to dust mite extracts. | | | | tools for managing dust mites and their minute |
| Identifying the Sensitivity to Dust Mite Protein | | | | droppings. Thorough cleaning of carpets, |
| House dust contains many types of debris, | | | | mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains and |
| including fabric fibers, human skin scales, human | | | | drapery regularly will reduce the dust mite |
| and animal dander, bacteria, cockroach parts, mold | | | | allergens in your home. It is better to clean |
| spores, food particles and other organic and | | | | thoroughly once a week instead of lightly every |
| synthetic materials. About 90% of the people | | | | day. In order to prevent these minute particles |
| who are allergic to house dust extracts are allergic | | | | containing allergens from being recirculated into |
| to dust mite extracts. Symptoms which may | | | | the air you breathe, a vacuum cleaner's filtration |
| come from sensitivities to the dust mite protein | | | | system must be very efficient at trapping |
| include sneezing, congestion, itchy, watery eyes | | | | particles at least that small. |
| and persistently stuffy nose and ears. Symptoms | | | | The agitation and air flow created by your |
| point more specifically to dust mites when you | | | | vacuum cleaner to clean you surfaces causes a |
| experience repeated sneezing shortly after | | | | huge number of minute dust mite dropping to be |
| awakening, symptoms get worse when beds are | | | | drawn into it. They can easily pass through most |
| made or when using your vacuum cleaner, and | | | | vacuum cleaner bags and filters and be exhausted |
| improve when you are outside. Diagnosis, using | | | | back into the air you breathe, making it much |
| scratch tests, etc., by an Allergist is | | | | dirtier than before. The vacuum cleaner industry is |
| recommended to determine which allergens cause | | | | taking advantage of the development of |
| reactions. These doctors who specialize in treating | | | | advanced filtration media to provide much higher |
| allergies can recommend a course of action | | | | quality exhausted air than was possible just a few |
| specifically designed to reduce or eliminate your | | | | years ago. The current cutting edge in vacuum |
| allergic reactions. This may include steps for | | | | cleaner technology is in the area of improving the |
| reducing exposure to troublesome allergens, | | | | filtration efficiencies of vacuum cleaners. Special |
| medical therapy and desensitization injections | | | | high filtration paper bags are available from many |
| (Systemic Immunotherapy - SIT). The latter may | | | | manufacturers which filter much better than |
| be recommended if avoidance and medical | | | | conventional ones. To learn more about these high |
| therapy fail to sufficiently reduce the allergic | | | | filtration paper bags, see our article on the |
| reaction. It involves injections of a dust mite | | | | efficiency of vacuum cleaner paper bags |
| extract starting weekly, followed by injections | | | | To reduce the effects on allergies and asthma |
| every six weeks for three to five years. | | | | caused by the allergens in dust mite droppings, |
| Importance of Reducing Exposure to the Dust | | | | look for a vacuum cleaner with an ULPA or HEPA |
| Mite Allergen | | | | filter. It also is very important to have a |
| If your family is not sensitive to the dust mite | | | | completely sealed system so all air flow must |
| protein DER p1, managing them may not be a | | | | pass through the ULPA or HEPA filter to be |
| high priority. For those who suffer from it, | | | | cleaned by it. By combining high filtration paper |
| management by reducing exposure to the allergen | | | | bags, a Certified HEPA filter and completely sealed |
| DER p1 is quite important. Two important aspects | | | | systems, vacuum cleaners can achieve extremely |
| which need to be addressed are the removal of | | | | high filtration efficiencies of 99.97% at 0.3 micron |
| environments which are conducive to dust and | | | | size particles. ULPA filters have an even higher |
| dust mites and the reduction of airborne dust | | | | efficiency of 99.999% at 0.12 micron size |
| mite droppings and disintegrating body parts. | | | | particles. For more information about HEPA and |
| Inhaling these minute particles causes allergic | | | | ULPA filtration. |
| reactions in those who are sensitive to this | | | | Summary |
| protein. | | | | Dust mites are microscopic creatures which live at |
| The exposure level at which you experience | | | | peace with all of us, constantly going about their |
| allergic reactions is determined by the sum of | | | | routine of cleaning up our environment. |
| exposure to all allergens you're sensitive to. Those | | | | Unfortunately, for about 10% of the population, |
| who are sensitive to multiple allergens find that | | | | the protein DER p1 in their minute droppings |
| reduction of exposure to any of the allergens will | | | | causes allergic reactions which affect their |
| help in their tolerance of all the allergens. It is | | | | respiratory systems causing allergic reactions and |
| important to realize that you do not need to | | | | triggering asthmatic attacks. A visit to an doctor |
| completely eliminate exposure to allergens. Simply | | | | specializing in allergies (allergist) can confirm which |
| keeping your total exposure of all allergens below | | | | allergens you are sensitive to. They are able to |
| the threshold at which you experience reactions is | | | | prescribe a course of action which may include |
| all that is necessary. | | | | steps to reduce the allergen exposure, medication |
| Reducing Exposure to Allergens in Your Bed | | | | therapy and possibly desensitization injections. |
| Due to the amount of time we spend sleeping the | | | | Key steps to reduce exposure to dust mite |
| mattress should be covered with a protector, our | | | | allergens include encasing mattresses and pillows, |
| bedrooms are the areas which deserve the most | | | | washing bedding and curtains regularly, controlling |
| attention. Simply turning over in bed or breathing | | | | humidity in you home and cleaning thoroughly with |
| near your pillow can cause you to inhale minute | | | | a powerful high filtration vacuum cleaner. In |
| dust mite droppings. Using hypo-allergenic fiberfill | | | | extreme cases, carpets and upholstered surfaces |
| pillows is recommended over feather, kapok or | | | | should be replaced with hard surfaces which are |
| foam since they are more easily washed. Encasing | | | | easier to clean and which inhibit dust mite growth. |
| your pillows, mattress and box spring with plastic | | | | The goal is to reduce allergen exposure to below |
| or specially coated or finely woven (pore size < | | | | the level at which allergic reactions occur, not |
| 10 microns) vapor- permeable fabrics will deprive | | | | necessarily the elimination of all exposure to the |
| the dust mites of food and prevent many of the | | | | dust mite allergen. |
| dust mite droppings from reaching you. The | | | | The Marble Master Stone Care System is specially |
| fabrics are more comfortable since they allow | | | | formulated and developed by stone care |
| perspiration vapor to be more naturally carried | | | | professionals with more than 40 years of |
| away from your skin. Thorough vacuuming the | | | | experience in the natural stone industry. For more |
| mattresses, especially the seams and bed frame | | | | information or to purchase the products, visit or |
| on a regular basis is also helpful. Wash your | | | | call 020 8807 8889. |
| sheets and mattress pads in soapy water at 130 | | | | You may publish this article in your ezine, |
| degrees F every one or two weeks to kill all | | | | newsletter on your web site as long as the byline |
| mites. Bedding and curtains which can withstand | | | | is included and the article is included in it's entirety. |
| frequent washing should be selected. Blankets can | | | | I also ask that you activate any html links found |
| be dry cleaned or washed frequently. Using an | | | | in the article and in the byline. |