Influence of environmental characteristics and climatic factors on mites in the dust of air-conditioner filters

Abstract

Mites present in the dust of air-conditioner filters are potential indoor threat to asthma and allergy sufferers. In this study, we find that the storage mite Tarsonemus granarius is the predominant species of mites in the dust of air-conditioner filters (MACF). Thus, the possible clinical importance of T. granarius should cause more our attentions in the future. The abundance and distribution of MACF are also found significantly varied in different climatic regions of China. When we try to assess the possible risk of MACF, more attentions should be focused on subtropical region than temperate region. The influence analysis of environmental characteristics on the prevalence of MACF will shed light on the establishment of mite control strategy and the design of mite defense air-conditioner.

Allergen sensitization affected the change trend of prevalence of symptoms of rhinitis coexisting with wheeze among adolescents in Guangzhou City from 1994 to 2009

“…This may be attributed to Guangzhou's tropical climate, whose warm and humid environment facilitated the growth and proliferation of HDMs. Previous local surveys have found the concentration of HDMs to be high in Guangzhou families , especially in rooms equipped with air conditioners . In the current survey, the concentration of HDMs was also measured at relatively high level (median = 1.6 μg/m 2 ) in bed .…”

House dust mite sensitization is the main risk factor for the increase in prevalence of wheeze in 13‐ to 14‐year‐old schoolchildren in Guangzhou city, China

“…Indoor HDM level has been found to be higher from beds and in most of the families with installation of air‐conditioners. The filters of these air‐conditioners have been found to contain a high concentration of HDM . Thus, exposure to mite in household dust or from air‐conditioner filters and beds may be an important risk factor for the development of sensitizations and allergic airway diseases in Guangzhou.…”

Factors Associated with Allergen Sensitizations in Patients with Asthma and/or Rhinitis in China

“…We performed a study on measuring levels of mite allergens from beds in Guangzhou where we found 88% of dust samples from mattresses showed levels of Der1 above 10 μg/g. 21 Wu et al 22 collected dust from air-conditioner filters from six cities of China and found D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae in the filters. Cui and Wang performed a study in Huainan city of Anhui province of China and also suggested that mite occurrence rate on the surface of air-conditioner filters was high 23 While the air conditioner is running, mite allergens accumulated in the dust of filters and the settled dust can be continuously whirled into indoor air and raise the allergy risk for patients with asthma and rhinitis living in the room.…”

“…We performed a study on measuring levels of mite allergens from beds in Guangzhou where we found 88% of dust samples from mattresses showed levels of Der1 above 10 g/g. 21 Wu et al 22 collected dust from air-conditioner filters from six cities of China and found D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae in the filters. Cui and Wang performed a study in Huainan city of Anhui province of China and also suggested that mite occurrence rate on the surface of air-conditioner filters was high.…”