Pyroglyphid Mites as a Source of Work-Related Allergens

Abstract

Pyroglyphid mites are primarily associated with allergen exposure at home; hence the name house dust mites. However, we have found numerous studies reporting pyroglyhid mite levels in public and occupational settings. This review presents the fi ndings of house dust mite allergens (family Pyroglyphidae, species Dermatophagoides) as potential work-related risk factors and proposes occupations at risk of house dust mite-related diseases. Pyroglyphid mites or their allergens are found in various workplaces, but clinically relevant exposures have been observed in hotels, cinemas, schools, day-care centres, libraries, public transportation (buses, trains, taxies, and airplanes), fi shing-boats, submarines, poultry farms, and churches. Here we propose a classifi cation of occupational risk as low (occasional exposure to mite allergen levels up to 2 μg g -1 ), moderate (exposure between 2 μg g -1 and 10 μg g -1 ), and high (exposure >10 μg g -1 ). The classifi cation of risk should include factors relevant for indoor mite population (climate, building characteristics, and cleaning schedule). To avoid development or aggravation of allergies associated with exposure to house dust mites at work, occupational physicians should assess exposure risk at work, propose proper protection, provide vocational guidance to persons at risk and conduct pre-employment and periodic examinations to diagnose new allergy cases. Protection at work should aim to control dust mite levels at work. Measures may include proper interior design and regular cleaning and building maintenance.

Trends in Occupations and Work Sectors Among Patients With Work-Related Asthma at a Canadian Tertiary Care Clinic

“…It is also possible that other common aeroallergens (eg, pets, pyroglyphid mites) may have contributed to cases in the public environments as observed in previous literature. 28,29 The increased incidence of WRA among workers in the education industry also raises concern as to whether there might be a parallel risk for students who share the school environment.…”

International consensus (ICON) on: clinical consequences of mite hypersensitivity, a global problem

“…are potential work-related risk factors [166]. Several studies have reported high levels of domestic mite allergens in occupational settings, particularly in schools and day care centers, but clinically relevant exposures can also been found in various workplaces, including poultry farms, hotels, cinemas, libraries, public transportation, fishing-boats, submarines, and churches [166]. …”

“…These authors found that inhalable dust mite allergen concentrations in most of the workplaces investigated were higher than those in living areas, and significant differences were found for textile recycling, bed feather filling, feed production, grain storage and cattle stables [167]. These studies [166, 167] show that exposure to house dust mite allergens can be higher in occupational than in domestic settings, and therefore subjects sensitized to house dust mites can experience worsening or aggravation of respiratory symptoms in the workplace, leading to work-exacerbated asthma.…”

Levels of house dust mite allergen in cars / Razine alergena prašinskih grinja u automobilima

“…While HDM allergen levels measured in this study in north-east Scotland indicate low risk (18), the small sample size can hardly serve to predict the distribution of HDM allergen, especially the levels that might constitute a health risk. Further investigations of HDM levels (including Der p 1 measurements) in UK households and vehicle dust are warranted, especially where high household HDM levels are likely to be found (i.e.…”