For Practitioners

Allergen Avoidance

Recommendations for allergen avoidance or allergen reduction measures play an important part in the treatment of allergic asthmatic patients.

However, it is not always clear from the available science what these recommendations should be.

The purpose of this section of the RespEase website is to make the case that the RespEase sleeping environment can play an important role in allergen avoidance by:

1. Removing airborne particulates and gases from the sleeping environment
2. Removing excess moisture (>50% Relative Humidity (RH)) from the sleeping environment
3. The use of bedding and pillows that inhibit house/dust mite growth

By doing so:
4. Reduce the viability of house/dust mites colonies in the sleeping environment

Finally resulting in:
5. An improvement in respiratory health of the individual regularly using the sleeping environment

1. Removing airborne particulates and gases from the sleeping environment

We have measured the total particle counts of MP10 (particulate smaller than 10 um in size) and PM1 (particulate smaller than 1 um in size) using a DUSTTRAK Aerosol Monitor (Model 8520, see Graph 1 and 2). The results show that for both measures the air quality inside the sleeping environment are at the detection limit of 1ug/m3 (scale is in mg/m3).

Graph 1: Particle monitoring (<10 micron) inside and outside the sleeping environment

Graph 2: Particle monitoring (<1 micron) inside and outside the sleeping environment

It is clear from this data that the RespEase sleeping environment is extremely effective at keeping airborne contaminants from entering. In fact the roughing filter/HEPA filter combination will remove more than 99.97% of particles, which includes allergens thrown up from carpets, furnishings and cuddly toys in the room. In the same manner the system prevcents house mites living on furnishings from entering the environment, allowing vacuum cleaning of the room, opening of curtains and doors, without contaminating or seeding the bedlinnen and matrass with mites. Furthermore, the system also contains a carbon filter (as part of the roughing filter) which will remove Ozone and other irritant gases.

2. Removing excess moisture (>50% RH) from the sleeping environment

The RespEase sleeping environment has a build-in dehumidifier with the specific purpose of maintaining a humidity in the sleeping environment which is lower than 50% RH (Relative Humidity) when occupied and as low as possible at any other time. Graph 3 shows the viability of house-dust mites as a function of temperatures and humidity². From this graph it is clear that house-dust mites will dessicate under the conditions prevailing in the sleeping environment.

3. The use of bedding and pillows that inhibit house/dust mite growth: Amicor

Amicor is an intelligent fibre with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal additives inside the fibre. Due to the unique fibre structure, these additives are diffused slowly - providing long lasting protection inside beds and bedding. The Amicor fibre has been tested by Cambridge Etymology& Allergy UK. They have measured airborne dust mite allergens in bedding materials as part of achieving their Seal Of Approval. A full clinical trial is underway.

4. Reduce the viability of house/dust mites colonies in the sleeping environment

All the measures above are effective at reducing house-dust mite levels in the sleeping environment and together they prevent the formation of colonies and the production of allergens, allowing the patient a good night sleep. It is worth noting that whole house dehumidification, air filtration and bedding modifications have been tried in various studies with some succes, but notably, a number of failures. This is because each measure in isolation will not achieve the desired result: Settling of allergens on the bed during the day is enough to result in an Astma-attack, never mind the quality of the bedding. Air filtration will not control mites living in the matrass. Whole house dehumidification is extremely difficult to achieve and often fails to effectively reduce the humidity of the bedlinnen and matrass (Our system keeps the underside of the matrass at 45% humidity).

References

1. Carrer P, Alcini D, Cavallo D, Lovato L, Vercelli F, Visigalli F, Bollini D, Ghalandar R, Maroni M. Daily personal exposure to air pollutants of office workers in Milano. Proceedings of Healthy Buildings/IAQ ’97, JE Woods, DT Grimsrud, N Boschi (eds.), Washington 1997;2:249-54.

2. Franchi, M.1; Carrer, P.2; Kotzias, D.3; Rameckers, E. M. A. L.4; Seppänen, O.5; van Bronswijk, J. E. M. H.6; Viegi, G.; Gilder, J. A.7; Valovirta, E.1. Working towards healthy air in dwellings in Europe, Allergy, Volume 61, Number 7, July 2006 , pp. 864-868(5) Blackwell Publishing

Carrer P, Cavallo D, Maroni M, Foà V. Airborne particles and human health: state of the knowledge and research perspectives. Eur J Oncol, 1999; 4, 5: 545-51.