THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK POSED TO CHILDREN BY INDOOR ALLERGENS

The development of allergic sensitization and disease in children depe nds mainly upon the genetic predisposition, the time and extent of exp osure against allergens and upon environmental factors. Allergen avoid ance in infancy substantially lowers the frequency of sensitization an d allergic manifestations. In Germany mice allergens are the most impo rtant indoor allergens followed by cat allergens and fungal allergens. Private houses bear the greatest risk of exposure to mite allergens. Nevertheless in day nurseries there is a considerable amount of dust s amples with mite allergen levels greater than 10 mu g/g dust (18% of m attresses, 15% of soft toys, pillows etc.). Cat allergen levels in day nurseries and schools are similar to those in houses where a car has never been kept. There is a correlation between the percentage of chil dren who have cats at home and the cat allergen levels in dust. In an own study the mean numbers of fungal particles in dust samples from da y nurseries were higher compared with those from private houses. Highe r numbers of fungal particles concerned mostly day nurseries with flat roof and moisture problems. We conclude that generally private houses offer the highest risk of exposure to indoor allegens. In addition pu blic places like day nurseries or schools must be taken into considera tion as significant allergen sources.