Asthma and allergies are becoming an extremely prevalent problem among adults and children. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies affect and estimated 50 to 60 million Americans, which translates to about on of every five adults and children. Allergies are also the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States with an annual medical cost exceeding $18 billion.
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There are many different contaminants in indoor environments that can cause or aggravate allergies. Dust, for example, can contain a multitude of allergens including dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores.
A major reservoir for collecting and holding dust in indoor environments is carpet. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) lists carpet as one of the nine potential sources of biological agents in an occupied space (Bioaerosols: Assessment of Control, ACGIH 1999).
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Unfortunately, common allergens often get overlooked in a routine evaluation of a building for indoor environmental contaminants.
The International Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (IAACI) recommends collecting settled dust to evaluate the exposure of occupants to common allergens. Products such as the DustChekä make collecting dust samples simple. The DustChekä can be used with the AeroDustä Vacuum System of any standard vacuum cleaner with removable hose attachments. It is small and efficient, and provides a convenient way to collect dust samples for multiple analyses. The collected dust is sent to a laboratory where it can be analyzed for a variety of allergens. Having dust samples analyzed for potentially elevated levels of allergens is the first step in preventing exposure and decreasing the risk of allergies for the occupants.
There are threshold values that have been proposed from numerous studies on allergens in dust. These threshold values are levels ate which there is an increased risk of allergy sensitization or reactions in sensitized individuals. Indoor levels should be less than the levels specified in the chart below.
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Dust Mite (Der p 1) | 2 micrograms/gram1 |
Dust Mite (Der f 1) | 2 micrograms/gram1 |
Cat (Fel d 1) | 8 micrograms/gram1 |
Dog (Can f 1) | 10 micrograms/gram2 |
German Cockroach (Bla g 1) | 2 units/gram2 |
Source: Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (ACGIH, 1999)
AIHA Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants (AIHA, 1996)
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It is strongly recommended that you choose a laboratory that is accredited to perform allergen screens and any other analyses requested. Laboratories will provide their scope of accreditation upon request.
Allergen Screen includes:
Dust Mite Allergen
Cat Allergen
German Cockroach Allergen
Dog Allergen
Additional allergen analyses are available.
Please consult your allergen sampling professional for more details.
