The Effect of Carpet Fiber on the Growth of Dermatophagiodes farinae (House-Dust Mites) in a Controlled Environment PDF

Allergy to dust-mite excreta is one of the most common allergies worldwide. Health care practitioners recommend removal of carpets from homes of allergic people. Little consideration is given to the benefit of carpet. In the allergen research literature, carpets are rarely described as having unique characteristics, although these characteristics affect carpet construction, appearance, wearability, and cleanibility. In a pilot study, 24 pieces of commercially available, residential carpet of different fibers were inoculated with mites, Dermatophagiodes farinae, and placed in a textile conditioning lab under identical, environmentally controlled conditions. Methodology for study of dust mites and carpets was developed and refined.

The null hypothesis, that there is no difference between the numbers of mites grown in the three different carpet fiber environments, was rejected. Statistically significant differences exist between the nylon carpets and the wool and olefin carpets, but no significant difference is shown between the wool and olefin carpets.

Authors: Glenda Gilmore Andes, Kathleen R. Parrott, Ph.D., Judith A. Mollet, Ph.D., Jessie Chen-Yu, Ph.D.

Citation: Indoor Air Quality 2001 Moisture, Microbes, and Heath Effects: Indoor Air Quality and Moisture in Buildings Conference Papers

Keywords: November, California, 2001, IAQ