Exposure to indoor allergens in day-care facilities: results from 2 North Carolina counties.
BACKGROUND
With 63% of US children under 5 years of age in regular child care, day-care facilities could be an important source of exposure to indoor allergens.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined levels of 7 indoor allergens in 89 day-care facilities in 2 North Carolina counties.


METHODS
At each facility, a questionnaire was administered, observations were made, and vacuumed dust samples were collected from carpeted and noncarpeted areas of one room. Allergen concentrations were measured with antibody-based ELISAs.


RESULTS
Each allergen was detected in a majority of facilities (52% to 100%). Geometric mean concentrations were 5.19 mug/g for Alternaria alternata , 2.06 mug/g for Can f 1, 1.43 microg/g for Fel d 1, 0.21 U/g for Bla g 1, 0.20 microg/g for Der p 1, 0.10 microg/g for Der f 1, and 0.01 microg/g for Mus m 1. Concentrations for 5 of the 7 allergens were not statistically different from concentrations found in southern US homes sampled in the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing. In rooms with carpet and hard-surfaced flooring, levels of A alternata , Can f 1, Der f 1, Der p 1, and Fel d 1 were statistically higher on carpet.


CONCLUSIONS
In this survey of day-care facilities in North Carolina, detectable levels of indoor allergens were commonly found. For many young children and day-care staff, day-care facilities might be a source of clinically relevant exposures to indoor allergens.
Arbes
Samuel J
SJ
Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, MD, USA.
Sever
Michelle
M
Mehta
Jigna
J
Collette
Nicholas
N
Thomas
Brittany
B
Zeldin
Darryl C
DC
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000032:analysis; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D002415:Cats; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003058:Cockroaches; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009657:North Carolina; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C105482:allergen Bla g 1; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451159:Dermatophagoides farinae antigen f 1; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1