Domestic aeroallergen levels in Barcelona and Menorca (Spain)

Abstract

Exposure to common indoor allergens is known to be associated with sensitization and triggers of asthma. Levels of allergens have been barely described in Mediterranean countries. This study reports domestic allergen levels among the general population of two regions of Spain. Dust samples were collected from living rooms and mattresses in homes of infants in Barcelona (n = 366) and Menorca (n = 475) and assayed for house dust mite (Der p 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) concentrations by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Geometric mean values (95% CI) of Der p 1 were 0.77 micro g/g (0.65, 0.92) in living rooms and 0.68 (0.56, 0.82) in children's mattresses in Barcelona, and 9.06 (7.93-10.34) and 3.12 (2.71-3.59) in Menorca, respectively. Fel d 1 levels were 0.37 micro g/g (0.31, 0.45) and 0.14 (0.12, 0.18) in Barcelona, and 0.42 (0.35, 0.50) and 0.20 (0.18, 0.24) in Menorca. Home characteristics were not consistently related to levels of aeroallergens in either location. Differences in Der p 1 levels in the two locations indicate that levels cannot be extrapolated from one part of a country to another with any certainty. Additionally, allergen reduction measures related to indoor sources must be specific to each location.

Children’s residential exposure to selected allergens and microbial indicators: endotoxins and (1→3)-β-D-glucans

“…While analyzing the concentrations of allergens obtained by other researchers in similar studies it must be noted that the results vary depending on the country and the test sample. Comparing them to the allergen concentrations reported in our study, it should be noted that the average values donot correspond well with the results of similar works by other authors [19,43]. Topp et al, in the research conducted over a few years in Germany, indicated in the dust both from the floor and the bed lower concentration values, compared to ours, for Der p1, but higher for Fel d1 [31].…”

Mites in dust samples from mattress surfaces from single beds or cribs in the south Brazilian city of Londrina

“…The gold standard method to measure mite allergens content is the enzymatic immunoassay (1, 8, 9). However, only few mite allergen extracts are currently available for immunoassays, mainly D. pteronyssinus , Dermatophagoides farinae , and Blomia tropicalis .…”

Early-life domestic aeroallergen exposure and IgE sensitization at age 4 years

“…27 In what follows living room levels were used for the main analysis, although this was repeated with mattress samples, and a multivariate model including both was constructed. House dust mite allergen (Der p 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) concentrations were estimated from dust samples collected by the study team with the same vacuum cleaner equipped with an ALK filter (ALK, Maidstone, United Kingdom) and analyzed in a single laboratory by means of ELISA according to a standard protocol.…”

“…House dust mite allergen (Der p 1) and cat allergen (Fel d 1) concentrations were estimated from dust samples collected by the study team with the same vacuum cleaner equipped with an ALK filter (ALK, Maidstone, United Kingdom) and analyzed in a single laboratory by means of ELISA according to a standard protocol. 27,28 In the 4-year blood sample specific IgE levels against Der p 1, Fel d 1, and mixed grass pollens were determined in the same laboratory by using UniCap (Pharmacia, Morris Plains, NJ).…”

“…We have taken advantage of 3 European populations initially included in the Asthma Multicenter Infant Cohort Study (AMICS) with very different aeroallegen exposure profiles. 27,28 METHODS Pregnant women and their children were recruited for the AMICS, which aims to examine the effects of prenatal and postnatal environmental exposures in the inception of atopy and asthma. The 3 cohorts (in Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom, and Menorca Island and Barcelona city, Spain) followed the same research protocol.…”