house dust! How bad can it be? Well, the EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health. It is estimated that up to 50 million Americans are affected by allergies each year, with 11 million of these experiencing asthmatic symptoms. This represents about 16.7 million doctor visits and 18 billion U.S. dollars in medical expenses per year. As Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, it is not surprising that the rate of asthma and allergies are on the march!
The most common effects on health around allergens are allergic reactions, asthma, dermatitis and conjunctivitis. Everyone has different levels of sensitivity and May are not allergic to certain allergens. The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction are sneezing, itching and watering eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, tissue inflammation, respiratory (asthma) and skin irritation.
allergens consist of chemical or biological substances which an allergic reaction in some individuals. And house dust contains some of the common asthma and allergy allergens. In fact, polluted air and dust can mold spores, pollen, chemicals and perfumes. It may also be the three most common sources of allergens for asthma and allergies - pet DAND, dust mites, cockroaches and their waste.
Pet DAND is a big problem. In the Americas, the impact of animal DAND are higher than elsewhere in the world, because most of us keep our pets indoors. In fact, 63% of U.S. households own a pet corresponds to 69.1 million households.
dogs, cats, rodents - including hamsters and guinea pigs - and other mammals can trigger asthma in people with an allergic reaction to animal experiments DAND. The proteins in dead skin, saliva, dander and urine of an animal are the cause of allergies, not the animal's hair. And short hair dogs are not less allergenic than longhaired dogs.
cats are very allergenic - with the highest concentration of allergens in the neck. People who own cats are probably the allergens through their hair, skin and clothing. A high level of cat allergens were in the offices of people who keep cats at home.
Animal allergies also related products like down comforters, wool and mohair sweaters, fur coats, and horsehair upholstery.
Dust mites are closely related to spiders and ticks. They are invisible to the eye and are so tiny that they float in the air whenever you Fluff a pillow, Pat a stuffed animal or walk across a carpet. You are in every house! About 50% of allergic reaction to dust mites and this number is rising. In fact, dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not yet issued asthma symptoms.
Dust mites feed on human skin flakes, (people constantly shed skin and lose about 1 /5 ounces per week of dead skin), pollen, fungi, bacteria and animal DAND. Such as dust mites grow, they throw their skin. It is their feces and skin particles that cause allergic reactions in people. During her lifetime, dust mites have been used for the production of excrement a weight of up to 200 times their body weight. Over 42,000 dust mites can live in 1 oz dust. Dust mites live for up to 100 days and during that time was up to 70 eggs. Thus, only a few dust mites can quickly lead to a significant infestation.
Clinical studies have found that dust mites can cause allergic reactions, asthma, dermatitis, conjunctivitis and in the affected individuals. About 10% -20% of the population is allergic to dust mites. Dust mites thrive in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys, car seats and tissue products. For example, the average year-old pillow contains 250,000 dust mites.
cockroaches are the most common insect to evoke an allergic reaction. In the United States, the German cockroach is one of the most widespread species. Cockroach allergens are from their saliva, fecal matter, skin tanks, and their eggshells. As with other allergens, cockroach allergens are small enough to get air with normal traffic on one or more rooms. A concentration of 2 units of the German cockroach allergen per gram of dust was found to have an allergic reaction in some individuals.
combat dust
reduce exposure to indoor allergens can be asthma and allergy symptoms. One solution is to properly ventilate your home. As important as energy efficiency is an isolated reserves at home forty times more allergens PET as a non-insulated home. Air filters help, but PET emanations are remarkably durable and stay in furniture, carpets, curtains and heating channels as long as six months.
We spend around one third of our lives sleeping. Therefore, a high level of dust mites are often associated with the bedroom - especially beds and mattresses. Since dust mites dislike plastic and low humidity, for mattresses and pillows with dust proof zippered covers. Wash bedding weekly in hot water, at least 77 degrees F. Try to keep the humidity below 60% and replace feather pillows with plastic. Also, choose washable stuffed toys and wash them often in hot water and dry thoroughly. Keep stuffed toys from beds.
Select suitable facility - avoid overstuffed furniture, fabrics and wool carpets, because wool sheds particles that eaten by insects. Use washable curtains and rugs instead of wall to wall carpeting. If you can not replace the carpet, have it steam cleaned at least once a year, spring is best.
The vacuum cleaner is an important tool for managing house dust. However, dust the furniture before you vacuum so that the dust has time to get on the floor when they are picked up by the vacuum. Not scatter dust. Instead, dust with a damp cloth instead of dry dusting.
vacuum cleaner with a water filter are preferable to the paper bag with an injunction, because the water vacuum removes a larger particle size as the paper-bag types. There are also gaps with high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filters), intended for use by people allergic to dust.
It is better to vacuum thoroughly once a week rather than lightly on a daily basis. Vacuum mattresses and padded furniture thoroughly - 20 minutes for each mattress is not too long.
A major reservoir for the collection and operation of dust in indoor environments is carpeted. Carpets accumulate allergens at 100 times the rate of a bare floor. The ideal non-allergenic floor is hardwood or tile, since these surfaces can be cleaned with a damp MOP with small rugs and washable.
The most effective method to control animal allergens in your home to make pets out of the house and groom always outdoors. (Note experience in other countries much lower rates of allergies and asthma, since most animals are kept outdoors.)
If you are an animal from the house, it is important to clean the floors and walls, carpets and upholstered furniture thoroughly. Pet allergen levels are to stay in the home for several months after the PET is removed even with cleaning.
If your pet lives in the house, some experts advise you to wash your pets regularly. On the other hand, washing May only a temporary reduction in allergen levels. There is no evidence that these short-term decline is effective in reducing symptoms, and it was suggested that during the washing of the animal, sensitive individual and May initially exposed to higher levels of the allergen.
If you do not want your pets in the house, one solution is to make your bedroom off-limits to pets. Bathe them with a mild shampoo at least once a week to reduce DAND. Despite these precautions, several reports indicate that animal allergen in the air and by residents of the home on their clothing to all parts of the homeland, even if the animal is isolated.
If you have a forced air heating and /or cooling system in your home, you have another source for the production of dust. With forced-air systems, it is important that you at least pleated filters designed for the blower and clean it often.
According to the University of Texas research, air HEPA filters are much more effective in removing dust as ion-generating air purifiers, which electrically charged particles to remove them from circulating air. Some ion-generating air filters emit significant quantities of ozone. Ozone irritates the lungs and can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. According to the EPA, ozone May worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight infections of the respiratory tract.
Forced-air systems can be leaky pipes. It is not unusual to find about 20% of the air, goes through a typical forced-air system is lost through holes and gaps around the taps or from unsealed joints between duct sections. These leaks can be heated or cooled air from escaping and draw dirty air into the system. (A heating contractor can pressure test your system. If more than 2% of the air leak, it is worth, sealing all accessible common)
allergen screening
So how bad your house dust? The International Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (IAACI) recommends collecting dust settled to assess the exposure of occupants to common allergens.
thresholds have been proposed from numerous studies on allergens in dust. These thresholds are levels where there is an increased risk of allergy or sensitization reactions in sensitized individuals. Indoor levels should be less than the following levels: Allergen-specific
Threshold
dust mites 2 (microgram /gram)
Cat 8 micrograms /gram
Dog 10 micrograms /gram
cockroaches 2 units /gram
An allergen screening can use to determine the cause of allergic symptoms in your home or to help you make your decision in switching to a new position.
The best way to determine whether the dust allergens in your home over the thresholds is to hire a professional to conduct screening allergen. If it is determined that it is allergen levels above the threshold, then corrective measures can be implemented.
Peter Ottowitz
Certified Master Home Inspector
Certified Environmental Home Inspector
Certified Residential Mold Inspector
Level One Thermographer
Member American Society of Professional Real Estate Inspectors
Member National Association of Certified Home Inspectors
Indoor Environmental Standards Organization
Foundation of Real Estate Appraisers
MBA Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
MSEE Northeastern University, Boston, MA
BSEE WPI, Worcester, MA
http://www.masshomeinspect.com
http://www.newworldenergyaudits.com
Advance Look Home Inspection Service and Environmental Testing provides you a unique and convenient set of skills.
With our ability to detect serious environmental concerns, we have redefined the expectations for traditional home inspection. Whether you're a homebuyer looking for the industry's best home inspection or a homeowner with environmental worries you'd like to address, look no further. Advance Look is the only call you'll ever have to make.
Owner Peter Ottowitz, MSEE, MBA is a trained home inspector and household environmental testing specialist. He is qualified to conduct a number of different environmental tests, if the results of your home inspection indicate a need for them. From signs of mold, traces of radon, to allergen screening, Peter Ottowitz will ensure that you are knowledgeable about your house!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Ottowitz
0 comments:
Post a Comment