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Classifying Indoor Air Problems: What Can Go Wrong?
Published in H.E. Burroughs, Shirley J. Hansen, Managing Indoor Air Quality, 2020
H.E. Burroughs, Shirley J. Hansen
Allergic responses of the upper and lower respiratory tracts generally are secondary to the inhalation of allergens. These bring on an overreaction of the immune system that floods the system with histamines, resulting in the allergic symptoms. In younger children, allergen exposure has been shown to increase the risk for earlier onset of asthma. These allergens are usually associated with poorly maintained buildings and may originate in humidifiers, particularly cold water spray humidifiers, contaminated by microorganisms. However, they may also include external environmental pollutants, pollen, respirable particulates, dust mites, pesticides, cockroaches, and environmental tobacco smoke. Many people (over 2% of the general population) are specifically cat allergen sensitive (FEL d 1). Because this allergen is small and very “sticky” it can easily transport from the home into the work place or school via pet owners.
Animal Allergenic Dust
Published in Kathleen Hess-Kosa, Indoor Air Quality, 2018
The source of allergenic material may be any of a number of feline-associated materials, and tests are performed for the allergen Fel d 1. There has been considerable speculation as to the actual chemistry of the allergen, but most researchers have speculated that the allergen is somehow transferred, picked up, or concentrated by saliva. When the cat grooms itself by licking, the allergen is spread or transferred to the hair and epithelial cells. The following is an abbreviated list of known or suspected sources or transfer vehicles: SalivaSebaceous glandsHairEpithelial cellsEpidermis
Resuspension of house dust and allergens during walking and vacuum cleaning
Published in Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 2018
Roger D. Lewis, Kee Hean Ong, Brett Emo, Jason Kennedy, Jana Kesavan, Michael Elliot
During each 9-hr cycle, airborne particles were measured by two types of sampling devices: (1) aerodynamic particle sizer (TSI® Aerosol particle sizer, APS, models 3321, 3320), 20.3 cm above floor, which measured particle concentration and particle size in real time; and (2) large-air volume area samplers with filters operated at about 80 L/min and positioned at 20.3, 78.7, and 152.4 cm off the floor to represent the heights of infants, toddlers, and adults, respectively. These large volume air sampling pumps (BGI) were turned on when each activity commenced and turned off 20 min later. The three BGI pumps, sampling at three heights with five replicates, for four separate flooring conditions, totaled 60 large volume samples. However, on one occasion, a sampling line leading to one of the APS devices malfunctioned, requiring an additional sample run, so a total of 63 large volume air samples were analyzed. Sample analysis was for gravimetric dust, endotoxin (Endotoxin units, 9 EU = 1 ng), and cat allergen (Fel D 1). Fel D 1 was analyzed by ELISA and bacterial endotoxin was analyzed by kinetic chromatography (Aerotech P and K, Philadelphia, PA).[34,35]