ALLERGIES IN THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT

Allergic diseases have severely increased worldwide through the last 3 0 years. More than 50% of all allergic diseases are caused by allergen s out of the indoor environment. The most important allergen-carriers are cats, mites and molds. Since the first energy-crisis in 1970 priva te houses and offices had to be saved from energy rests, which decreas ed the rate of air changing and increased the relative humidity in the indoor environment. The hygienic situation of air conditioning system s is often insufficient controlled and leads to microbiological contam ination. In Germany the number of cats, kept in private homes has incr eased significantly. These are important facts which led to an increas e of indoor air allergies. The greatest number of mites and mold aller gens are to be found in mattresses and textile furnitures. For most of the allergens in indoor air the correlation between the sensitizing a llergen concentration and onset of illness is unknown. Diagnostic and therapy of allergies in the indoor environment must be supported by pr evention and eliminating the main sources of allergen exposure.