Environmental Controls
Pollens:
• Patients have symptoms when pollen counts are 20-100 grains/m3
• Insect-borne pollen which is larger is usually filtered out by the nose, i.e.-flowers
Season:
• Trees -Generally January through September (any three consecutive days of 650 greater)
• Grasses-April through September
• Weeds-July through September
• (Patients who are hypersensitive may react with very low pollen counts-monitor stress)
Environmental Considerations for Pollens:
• Highest counts are on dry, hot days and windy days.
• Counts are highest in the morning, lowest during a rain and highest after a rain.
• Use your Air Conditioner when applicable and replace your furnace filters monthly.
• Keep pets outside and bathe them every two weeks.
• Use HEPA air filtration system, especially in the bedroom .
• When working outdoors use a cotton or HEPA face mask .
• Visit the allergy lab when symptomatic; do not use antihistamines, may use decongestant.
Molds:
• Keep area open to sunlight.
• Mold spores are found both indoors and outdoors
• Molds like damp, shady areas and decaying vegetative materials i.e.-leaves, fruit, vegetables
• Highest counts found during humid weather and when weather changes suddenly.
• 10-20% of homes show abnormal mold growth
• Indoor temperature and humidity can foster mold growth in bathrooms, basements (dryer not vented outside) , Kitchens (condensation from cooking), window frames, plants, frost-free refrigerator’s water pan, A/C drain pan
Indoor Mold Prevention:
• Keep humidity below 40%- use a dehumidifier or Damp Rid.
• Use Air Conditioning and exhaust fans in kitchen and bathrooms
• Repair water damage.
• Safer mold killers are available such as Allertech Mold remover, AFM Clean and mold retardant, AFM Impregon, X158, Rep 70 helps to prevent growth for 2-3 months. Some people use diluted Clorox or Tilex if not chemically sensitive.
• Use mold retardants in your paint, wallpaper glue, A/C in cars
• HEPA filters
Outdoor Mold Prevention:
• Keep vegetation cleaned up and away from the house
• Ventilate your crawl spaces under your home to dry out any standing water
• Drain low-lying areas around your house
Dust Mites:
• Dust mites are related to spiders and scorpions
• D. Farinae and D. Pteronyssinus are the mites that are tested/treated for in the U.S
• Mites don’t carry disease and avoid contact with humans
• They live off of human and animal skin scales
• The average human adult loses up to 1.5 grams of skin per day
• The mite’s feces (10-20 per mite/day) is what causes allergic symptoms
• Powder from the feces becomes airborne and sticks to carpet and upholster
• Mites thrive at temperatures between 68-84 of and 65-80 % humidity
• Mites rarely found above 3,600 feet
• Average bed contains 2 million mites
• Infestation has little to do with housekeeping
Mite Control
• Keep temperature above 85°F and keep humidity below 50% (dehumidify)
• Wash sheets in 130°F (hot) water each week
• Minimize or eliminate stuffed animals
• Keep pets out of the bedroom
• Kill mites with tannic acid spray, i.e. Allersearch ADS spray
• Use HEPA vacuum cleaners and air filters throughout the house
Animal Danders
• Almost impossible to avoid exposure to cat dander
• 70 % of homes have measurable cat dander
• Frequently found in office buildings because cat danders sticks easily to owner’s clothing
• Cat allergen comes from the salivary glands and sebaceous glands of the cat’s skin
• Cats groom themselves 30-50% of their waking hours
• All breeds of cats can cause allergies
• Best treatment is to remove the cat and plan on 20 weeks to rid the dander from the house-most patients won’t do this so need to be seen in the Allergy Lab to develop a treatment to control symptoms.
• Bi-weekly washing of the cat can cut both present and future dander production
• Use Allerpet-C on the fur to decease shedding and neutralize their dander
• Treatment is the same for dogs
• Mist frequently with water your house birds to cutdown on feather dust
• Urine from hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs is allergenic; does the patient really need these pets?
• Use a HEPA filter and replace or clean your furnace filters monthly
Filters
• Allergic patients should not use fiberglass filters
• Polyester resinous filters catch only 50% of the larger dust particles
• Electrostatic filters are only effective in filtering out visible, air particles
• Electronic air cleaners can remove up to 95 % of dust and 99 % of pollen, if maintained
• HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of all particles down to .3 microns
• Energy efficient houses need to be well ventilated and filtered to cut down on allergens
Source: M. Jennifer Derebery, M.D.
