Indoor Allergen Levels and Household Distributions in Nine Cities Across China

Yi Wu Zheng, Xu Xin Lai, De Yu Zhao, Chun Qing Zhang, Jian Jun Chen, Luo Zhang, Qing Yu Wei, Shi Chen, En Mei Liu, Dan Norback, Birgitte Gjesing, Nan Shan Zhong, D Michael Spangfort, Yi Wu Zheng, Xu Xin Lai, De Yu Zhao, Chun Qing Zhang, Jian Jun Chen, Luo Zhang, Qing Yu Wei, Shi Chen, En Mei Liu, Dan Norback, Birgitte Gjesing, Nan Shan Zhong, D Michael Spangfort

Abstract

Objective: Chinese allergic subjects have high levels of sensitization to house dust mite (HDM) and other indoor allergens. This study quantifies common indoor allergen levels in Chinese households.

Methods: Dust samples were collected from nine cities. Major allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and specific antigens of Blomia tropicalis, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Acarus siro, and cockroach species Blattella germanica and Periplaneta americana were measured by ELISA.

Results: HDM allergens were found in dust samples from bedding in 95% of the Chinese households. The median levels varied from <0.006 to 9.2 µg/g of dust, depending on the city. The percentages of households having HDM allergen levels associated with the risk of developing allergy sensitization and asthma were 65% and 25%, respectively. Specific antigens of the storage mite and cockroach were only found in samples from the southern and tropical regions of China. Levels of mite allergens were generally higher in samples from bedding compared to samples from the living room, even for storage mites, whereas levels of cockroach antigens were higher in the living room samples.

Conclusion: HDM allergens are present in bedding dust samples from most Chinese households. Cities in southern and central China have relatively high levels of HDM major allergens compared to cities in northern and western China. Antigens of storage mites and cockroaches are not as common as HDM allergens.

Keywords: D. farinae; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; House dust mite; Indoor allergen; Storage mite.

Copyright © 2015 The Editorial Board of Biomedical and Environmental Sciences. Published by China CDC. All rights reserved.

Source: PubMed

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