Reducing relative humidity is a practical way to control dust mites and their allergens in homes in temperate climates

Arlian, Larry G.; Neal, Jacqueline S.; Morgan, Marjorie S.; Vyszenski-Moher, DiAnn L.; Rapp, Christine M.; Alexander, Andrea K.

doi:10.1067/mai.2001.112119

Cited by 119 publications

(63 citation statements)

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“…General conclusions can be drawn for house dust mites, influenza, and thermal comfort at low activity levels. Data in the HDM literature support the conclusion that higher humidity levels encourage dust mite growth and subsequent HDM allergen production (Arlian, 1992;Arlian et al, 1998;Arlian et al, 2001), because dust mites obtain moisture from the air for survival. Dust mites can survive and reproduce with brief periods of high humidity in otherwise dry environments (Arlian et al, 1998).…”

Section: Knowledge Gapssupporting

confidence: 61%

“…Dust mites can survive and reproduce with brief periods of high humidity in otherwise dry environments (Arlian et al, 1998). HDM allergens were significantly reduced when humidity was below approximately 50% or 60% RH (Arlian et al, 2001;Howieson et al, 2003).…”

Section: Knowledge Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the authors noted a statistical difference in absolute humidity between low and high HDM infestation homes, absolute humidity was extremely low in both groups. Arlian et al (2001) studied HDM allergens in 71 Ohio homes over 17 months, including two summers. Homes employed dehumidifier and air conditioning, only air conditioning, or natural ventilation.…”

Section: House Dust Mites (Hdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…House dust mite literature consisted of laboratory tests (Arlian, 1992;Arlian et al, 1998), and environmental sampling of dust mite allergens (Munir et al, 1995;Sundell et al, 1995;Arlian et al, 2001;Howieson et al, 2003), with test conditions shown in Figure 2. Arlian (1992) With a brief (2 or 4 hour) exposure to 75% RH, dust mites were unable to complete the entire life cycle, but they laid eggs and many adult females survived.…”

Section: House Dust Mites (Hdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Update of the scientific evidence for specifying lower limit relative humidity levels for comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality in occupied spaces (RP-1630)

Derby

Hamehkasi

Eckels

et al. 2016

Science and Technology for the Built Environment

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Nearly 600 papers were located in citation and keyword searches regarding the effects of humidity on comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Of these, around 70 papers reported the effects of low humidity (RH≤40%) and were analyzed in detail. Information in some categories was well chronicled, while other categories had significant knowledge gaps.Low humidity decreased house dust mite allergens. Due to different envelopes, generalizations could not be made for all bacteria and viruses. However, lower humidity increased virus survival for influenza. For comfort, low humidity had little effect on thermal comfort, but skin dryness, eye irritation, and static electricity increased as humidity decreased. For IEQ, low humidity had non-uniform effects on volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and perceived indoor air quality. Across many low humidity studies, ventilation rates and exposure times were noted as confounding variables. A majority of studies that used human subjects utilized exposure times of three hours or less with adult subjects; few studies used children, adolescents, or elderly subjects.

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Section: Knowledge Gapssupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Knowledge Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: House Dust Mites (Hdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: House Dust Mites (Hdm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Update of the scientific evidence for specifying lower limit relative humidity levels for comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality in occupied spaces (RP-1630)

Derby

Hamehkasi

Eckels

et al. 2016

Science and Technology for the Built Environment

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“…Dust mites only survive when the relative humidity is at least 55% over a sufficient period because water vapor serves as their only water source [6,22]. Table 4 presents the metal loadings in the settled dust samples.…”

Section: Allergensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure Assessment of Allergens and Metals in Settled Dust in French Nursery and Elementary Schools

et al. 2015

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Abstract:The aim of this study was to characterise the contamination in settled dust in French classrooms and to provide an overview of the influencing factors of dust contamination. Cat, dog and dust mite allergens and metals were measured in 51 classrooms at 17 schools. The concentrations of pet allergens in settled dust were generally low (mean value of 0.1 µg·g −1 ), with carpeted and rug-covered floors presenting higher dust and cat allergen concentrations. The highest metal loadings in dust were observed for manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu), while the lead (Pb) loadings were lower (16 ± 19 µg·m −2) and fell below the French guideline. Higher metal leachability was found for cadmium (Cd), Cu, Pb and strontium (Sr) at values of approximately 80%, which suggest that, in cases of dust ingestion by children, a large proportion should be assimilated through the gastro-intestinal tract. The intra-classroom and intra-school variabilities of the metal concentrations in settled dust were lower than the variability between schools. Classrooms with tiled floors had higher Pb loadings than classrooms with wood or vinyl floors. In addition, wet cleaning less than once a week resulted in greater loadings of Cu and Pb in the settled dust. Lastly, enrichment factors showed that metals in settled dust of classrooms were not only from the contribution of the natural background concentrations in soils.

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Indoor Air Quality in Nonindustrial Occupational Environments

Springston¹,

Horner²,

Lstiburek

2021

Patty's Industrial Hygiene

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This chapter discusses indoor air quality (IAQ) in nonindustrial buildings. Historically, the concept of IAQ has included viewpoints that the introduction of outdoor air, via passive and mechanical ventilation, is required both to prevent the buildup of contaminants and the associated adverse health effects, as well as to provide for comfort of occupants. It has been observed that airborne contagious diseases and malodor are more prominent in crowded spaces with insufficient ventilation and poor or nonexistent control of contaminant sources. The International Building Code (IBC), the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Mechanical Code (IMC), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air‐Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards 62.1 and 62.2 recommend approaches to the control of contaminant sources and the provision of outdoor air ventilation to lower the risk of occupant dissatisfaction and diseases. The varied approaches that can be used during IAQ evaluations reflect the multitude of different problems that can occur in buildings. In developing countries, higher morbidity and mortality have multifactorial causes, with contaminated food, water, and air as major risk factors. The chapter focuses on IAQ evaluation protocols and various guidelines.

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Reducing relative humidity is a practical way to control dust mites and their allergens in homes in temperate climates

Cited by 119 publications

References 0 publications

Update of the scientific evidence for specifying lower limit relative humidity levels for comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality in occupied spaces (RP-1630)

Update of the scientific evidence for specifying lower limit relative humidity levels for comfort, health, and indoor environmental quality in occupied spaces (RP-1630)

Exposure Assessment of Allergens and Metals in Settled Dust in French Nursery and Elementary Schools

Indoor Air Quality in Nonindustrial Occupational Environments

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