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Abstract
Basagaña
X, Torrent M, Atkinson W, Puig C, Barnes M,
Vall O, Jones M, Sunyer J, Cullinan P.
Full
reference: Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2002: 13:
412-417.
Exposure
to common indoor allergens is known to be associated
with sensitization and triggers of asthma. Levels
of allergens have been barely described in Mediterranean
countries. This study reports domestic allergen
levels among the general population of two regions
of Spain. Dust samples were collected from living
rooms and mattresses in homes of infants in
Barcelona (n = 366) and Menorca (n = 475) and
assayed for house dust mite (Der p 1) and cat
allergen (Fel d 1) concentrations by enzyme-linked
immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Geometric mean
values (95% CI) of Der p 1 were 0.77 µg/g
(0.65, 0.92) in living rooms and 0.68 (0.56,
0.82) in children's mattresses in Barcelona,
and 9.06 (7.93-10.34) and 3.12 (2.71-3.59) in
Menorca, respectively. Fel d 1 levels were 0.37
µg/g (0.31, 0.45) and 0.14 (0.12, 0.18)
in Barcelona, and 0.42 (0.35, 0.50) and 0.20
(0.18, 0.24) in Menorca. Home characteristics
were not consistently related to levels of aeroallergens
in either location. Differences in Der p 1 levels
in the two locations indicate that levels cannot
be extrapolated from one part of a country to
another with any certainty. Additionally, allergen
reduction measures related to indoor sources
must be specific to each location.
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