Environmental Controls

• Pollens:
  • Patients have symptoms when pollen counts are 20-100 grains/m3
  • Insect-borne pollen which is larger is usually filtered out by the nose, i.e.-flowers
   

• Season:
  • Trees -Generally January through September (any three consecutive days of 650 greater)
  • Grasses-April through September
  • Weeds-July through September
  • (Patients who are hypersensitive may react with very low pollen counts-monitor stress)
   

• Environmental Considerations for Pollens:
  • Highest counts are on dry, hot days and windy days.
  • Counts are highest in the morning, lowest during a rain and highest after a rain.
  • Use your Air Conditioner when applicable and replace your furnace filters monthly.
  • Keep pets outside and bathe them every two weeks.
  • Use HEPA air filtration system, especially in the bedroom .
  • When working outdoors use a cotton or HEPA face mask .
  • Visit the allergy lab when symptomatic; do not use antihistamines, may use decongestant.
   

• Molds:
  • Keep area open to sunlight.
  • Mold spores are found both indoors and outdoors
  • Molds like damp, shady areas and decaying vegetative materials i.e.-leaves, fruit, vegetables
  • Highest counts found during humid weather and when weather changes suddenly.
  • 10-20% of homes show abnormal mold growth
  • Indoor temperature and humidity can foster mold growth in bathrooms, basements (dryer not vented outside) , Kitchens (condensation from cooking), window frames, plants, frost-free refrigerator's water pan, A/C drain pan
   

• Indoor Mold Prevention:
  • Keep humidity below 40%- use a dehumidifier or Damp Rid.
  • Use Air Conditioning and exhaust fans in kitchen and bathrooms
  • Repair water damage.
  • Safer mold killers are available such as Allertech Mold remover, AFM Clean and mold retardant, AFM Impregon, X158, Rep 70 helps to prevent growth for 2-3 months. Some people use diluted Clorox or Tilex if not chemically sensitive.
  • Use mold retardants in your paint, wallpaper glue, A/C in cars
  • HEPA filters
   

• Outdoor Mold Prevention:
  • Keep vegetation cleaned up and away from the house
  • Ventilate your crawl spaces under your home to dry out any standing water
  • Drain low-lying areas around your house
   

• Dust Mites:
  • Dust mites are related to spiders and scorpions
  • D. Farinae and D. Pteronyssinus are the mites that are tested/treated for in the U.S
  • Mites don't carry disease and avoid contact with humans
  • They live off of human and animal skin scales
  • The average human adult loses up to 1.5 grams of skin per day
  • The mite's feces (10-20 per mite/day) is what causes allergic symptoms
  • Powder from the feces becomes airborne and sticks to carpet and upholster
  • Mites thrive at temperatures between 68-84 of and 65-80 % humidity
  • Mites rarely found above 3,600 feet
  • Average bed contains 2 million mites
  • Infestation has little to do with housekeeping
   

• Mite Control
  • Keep temperature above 85°F and keep humidity below 50% (dehumidify)
  • Wash sheets in 130°F (hot) water each week
  • Minimize or eliminate stuffed animals
  • Keep pets out of the bedroom
  • Kill mites with tannic acid spray, i.e. Allersearch ADS spray
  • Use HEPA vacuum cleaners and air filters throughout the house
   

• Animal Danders
  • Almost impossible to avoid exposure to cat dander
  • 70 % of homes have measurable cat dander
  • Frequently found in office buildings because cat danders sticks easily to owner's clothing
  • Cat allergen comes from the salivary glands and sebaceous glands of the cat's skin
  • Cats groom themselves 30-50% of their waking hours
  • All breeds of cats can cause allergies
  • Best treatment is to remove the cat and plan on 20 weeks to rid the dander from the house-most patients won’t do this so need to be seen in the Allergy Lab to develop a treatment to control symptoms.
  • Bi-weekly washing of the cat can cut both present and future dander production
  • Use Allerpet-C on the fur to decease shedding and neutralize their dander
  • Treatment is the same for dogs
  • Mist frequently with water your house birds to cutdown on feather dust
  • Urine from hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs is allergenic; does the patient really need these pets?
  • Use a HEPA filter and replace or clean your furnace filters monthly
  Filters
  • Allergic patients should not use fiberglass filters
  • Polyester resinous filters catch only 50% of the larger dust particles
  • Electrostatic filters are only effective in filtering out visible, air particles
  • Electronic air cleaners can remove up to 95 % of dust and 99 % of pollen, if maintained
  • HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of all particles down to .3 microns
  • Energy efficient houses need to be well ventilated and filtered to cut down on allergens
   

Source: M. Jennifer Derebery, M.D.