Indoor allergen levels in settled airborne dust are higher in day-care centres than at home

Abstract

Background

Early life sensitization to indoor allergens predicts asthma development. Aim of study was to compare allergen concentrations in day-care centres (DCC) to those in private homes.

Methods

Settled airborne dust was collected four times a year from 20 German DCC (620 samples), and from the homes of children and day-care workers (602 samples) using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC). The samples were analysed with fluorescence-enzyme-immunoassays recognising domestic mite allergens (DM), Fel d 1, Can f 1 and Mus m 1. Pet allergen thresholds that discriminate samples from homes with cats or dogs to those without were calculated using receiver-operator characteristics. Influences on allergen levels were analysed using multilevel models.

Results

Allergen loads were on average higher in DCC than in homes. In DCC, 96% of the samples were positive for DM, 95% for Can f 1, 90% for Fel d 1, and 83% for Mus m 1. In homes, 84% contained DM, 48.5% Can f 1, 33% Fel d 1, and 43% Mus m 1. The threshold level for homes with dogs was 75 ng/m² Can f 1 (96.8% sensitivity, 96% specificity), and 46 ng/m² Fel d 1 for homes with cats (92% sensitivity, 94.9% specificity). In DCC, Can f 1 and Fel d 1 loads were higher than these thresholds in 37% and 54% of the samples, respectively. Allergen levels were significantly influenced by the season and room type; however, carpets on floors had no influence.

Conclusions

Mite, mouse, cat and dog allergens were mostly higher in DCC than in homes. Exposure to dog and cat allergens in DCC often reached levels of households with pets.

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