Effect of environmental intervention on mouse allergen levels in homes of inner-city Boston children with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have suggested that mouse allergen exposure and sensitization are common in urban children with asthma. The effectiveness of environmental intervention in reducing mouse allergen exposure has not been established.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether environmental intervention of mouse extermination and cleaning results in a reduction in mouse allergen levels.


METHODS
Eighteen homes of children with positive mouse allergen skin test results and at least mild persistent asthma in urban Boston, MA, with evidence of mouse infestation or exposure were randomized in a 2:1 ratio (12 intervention and 6 control homes). The intervention homes received an integrated pest management intervention, which consisted of filling holes with copper mesh, vacuuming and cleaning, and using low-toxicity pesticides and traps. Dust samples were collected and analyzed for major mouse allergen (Mus m 1) and cockroach allergen (Bla g 1) at baseline and 1, 3, and 5 months after the intervention was started and compared with control homes.


RESULTS
Mouse allergen levels were significantly decreased compared with control homes by the end of the intervention period at month 5 in the kitchen and bedroom (kitchen intervention, 78.8% reduction; control, 319% increase; P = .02; bedroom intervention, 77.3% reduction; control, 358% increase; P < .01; and living room intervention, 67.6% reduction; control, 32% reduction; P = .07).


CONCLUSIONS
Mouse allergen levels were significantly reduced during a 5-month period using an integrated pest management intervention.
Phipatanakul
Wanda
W
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. wanda.phipatanakul@childrens.harvard.edu
Cronin
Beth
B
Wood
Robert A
RA
Eggleston
Peyton A
PA
Shih
Mei-Chiung
MC
Song
Leslie
L
Tachdjian
Raffi
R
Oettgen
Hans C
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003058:Cockroaches; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D000485:Allergens