HOUSE-DUST-MITE ALLERGEN (DER P 1) LEVELS IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGES

Background In coastal Australia, mean house-dust-mite allergen concent ration is 20-40 times higher in homes than in public buildings. Allerg en concentrations in university colleges, which share some characteris tics of both homes and public buildings, are not known. The study aime d to compare bed mite-allergen concentration in colleges with local ho mes. Methods Mattress dust was collected from three colleges (n = 60 i n each) and local homes (n = 68) during summer. Der p 1 was measured b y ELISA. Information was collected on the floor plan of the colleges, cleaning practices, age of building, and orientation of room. Results Most college mattresses (94%) had Der p 1 concentrations less than the mean of homes in the same climate. The geometric means of Der p 1 in the mattresses of the colleges were as follows: A, 8.9 mu g Der p 1/g fine dust (95% CI 6.9, 11.5); B, 1.9 (1.5, 2.3); and C, 1.5 (1.2, 2.0) , compared to homes, 22.5 (17.6, 28.7). The percentages of college mat tresses with less than 2 mu g/g were 7%, 48%, and 58%, respectively, c ompared to 4% for homes. Higher Der p 1 concentrations were weakly ass ociated with age of building in college A, and orientation in college B. Der p 1 concentrations were independent of floor level and age of m attress. Conclusions These findings indicate that low allergen concent rations are achievable without extreme hygiene and cleaning measures i n a climate which supports mite proliferation in homes.