How to effectively reduce exposure to house dust mite allergen and dust in the home and at school
Catherine Sutton, founder of Airborne Allergy Action CIC and member of a family with several severely house dust mite allergic/asthmatic children, shares tips on how to effectively reduce exposure to dust and dust mites at home and in school, whilst simultaneously removing other potential asthma triggers.
Introduction
Asthma can be triggered by a range of allergens, pollutants and viruses. These include dust, dust mites, mould (indoors and out), specific tree pollen [eg. birch (April), hazel (Jan/Feb), alder (Jan/Feb), grass pollen (May – July)], animal dander and droppings, household chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and outdoor air pollution.
Individual trigger avoidance and good indoor/outdoor air quality are essential, alongside prescribed medication for good asthma control.
This blog is about dust and dust mites, but the techniques will reduce exposure to other asthma triggers too, including particulate matter from outdoor air pollution brought indoors. It will also reduce exposure to viruses, including cold viruses and COVID.
Settled dust and vacuum cleaners
According to the RCPCH Report on Health Effects of Indoor Air on Children and Young People, “Settled dust is a source of pollutants including particulate matter, biological pollutants (from house dust mites and other pests, pet allergens, mould and fungi), SVOCs (semi-volatile organic compounds), pesticides, flame retardants, phthalates and even peanut or other food allergenic proteins” (1).
The report also states: “Vacuum cleaners can release and resuspend dust and allergens, presenting an additional source of exposure for susceptible populations. (2) This happens both through vacuuming disturbing the dust and through emissions from the vacuum cleaner.”
A 2008 Cochrane meta-analysis on house dust mite allergen was used in the British Asthma Guideline for many years. It suggested there was no point in trying to avoid house dust mite allergen. This analysis was not used in many other countries and was discredited several years ago. Cochrane now state that it, “should not be used for clinical decision making”.
Please be assured that dust mites and dust are entirely manageable (even for the most allergic children) when correct techniques are employed. We have shown many parents of children with severe house dust mite allergy and other asthma how to do this.
In the war against dust mites as well as other asthma triggers (allergic, non-allergic and viral), it is essential to understand the correct type of vacuum cleaner to use. Such a vacuum cleaner type is one that does not resuspend but retains all dust and reduces particulate matter throughout the house. This is by using a hepa filter and sealed disposable bag.
In my opinion, it is unlikely that a vacuum cleaner that is manually emptied can be allergy friendly due to risk of dust release.
Tell tale sign: If you can smell dust, it is likely to be in the air.
Various vacuum cleaners on the market fit the bill. They are not the most expensive ones. Examples are Miele C3 Allergy (Cleaning suppliers suggest it should be possible to swap the activated charcoal filter in any C3 or C2 Miele for a hepa filter if you have one of these models).
Also SEBO, Hoover, AEG, Electrolux, Nilfisk, Philips, Bosch all have similar models at various prices.
Commercial vacuum cleaners of this type are used in quality hotels/care homes. They have also been used in successful multi-trigger avoidance asthma studies such as Morgan et al 2004 (3) and the Alameda County Asthma Start Program (4).
Keep an eye on vacuum cleaners used in hotels or other homes when on holiday. A bad vacuum cleaner can ruin a holiday!
Respiratory clinicians and consultant allergists can write to councils and head teachers and ask them to provide these safest types of vacuum cleaners for asthmatics. They are often happy to oblige.
Airborne Allergy Action CIC and the Ella Roberta Family Foundation have devised the “CleanAir Inside Schools” programme, which includes provision of suitable models in schools where currently low filtration dust resuspending vacuum cleaners are routinely used.
Remember, it is often insufficient to just remove carpet from a room as dust will still get resuspended in the air if a vacuum cleaner is releasing dust.
The bedroom is a major source of house dust mite allergen
The child’s bedroom can be the most polluted room in the house. Wet dusting throughout is a good and safe way of removing settled dust from surfaces. Also:
- Decluttering reduces surfaces for dust to hide
- Open the window to improve ventilation (if possible – not recommended in highly polluted areas)
- Cuddly toys can go in the freezer or be washed regularly. They are best stored in a toy container.
- Vacuuming curtains can help a lot too.
- Don’t use steam cleaners to kill dust mites – this can increase humidity which encourages more house dust mites and also mould spores in the air (note: humidity should be 40-60%).
Manchester University showed that the use of anti-dust mite bedding by mite sensitised asthmatic children can significantly reduce the risk of severe exacerbations resulting in emergency hospital attendance (5). This involves covering the mattress (a major source or dust mite allergen), duvet and pillow. An alternative is to wash bedding at 60 degrees or to use anti dust mite fabrics.
Is your fabric sofa too big or do you have too many?
Multiple fabric sofa/furnishings can be a big source of house dust mite allergen. Reducing the size/number of fabric sofas to one and/or using a leather effect alternative, and not using fabric cushions, can help.
The Indoor Air Quality Working Party, which authored the RCPCH Report on Health Effects of Indoor Air on Children and Young People, has produced guidance notes on improving indoor air quality:
- https://theinsidestory.health/healthier-air-at-home/
- https://theinsidestory.health/information-sheets/
Allergy UK also produces comprehensive information on allergen and trigger avoidance:
To note:
Airborne Allergy Action is a community interest company set up to raise awareness of the importance of avoiding allergenic, non-allergenic and viral triggers for asthma and other illnesses alongside prescribed medication. Follow us on Instagram @AirborneAllergy for more tips.
We provide personalised advice on trigger/pollutant avoidance and letters to schools and can flag up discounts available on relevant equipment, so cost is less of an issue. All proceeds go to providing high filtration vacuum cleaners, effective hepa air purifiers and STEM resources for schools on indoor and outdoor air pollution.
Our contact details are www.airborneallergyaction.org (http://www.airborneallergyaction.org/) info@airborneallergyaction.org
- Sheehan W, Brough H et al: Distribution of Peanut Protein in School and Home environments of inner city children
- Knibbs LD et al: Vacuum Cleaner Emissions as a Source of Indoor Exposure of Airborne Particles and Bacteria
- Morgan et al Results of a home-based environmental intervention among urban children with asthma https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15356304/
- Alameda County Asthma Start Programme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoQZS36CJzc
- Murray CS, Foden P, Sumner H, Shepley E, Custovic A and Simpson A. Preventing severe asthma exacerbations in children: A randomised trial of mite impermeable bedcovers. The American Thoracic Society. 2017.