Classroom aeroallergen exposure in Arkansas head start centers.
BACKGROUND
The impact of preschool environmental conditions on classroom aeroallergen concentrations is not fully understood.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between school environmental conditions and classroom aeroallergen concentrations in the Pulaski County Head Start (HS) Program.


METHODS
Thirty-three HS centers in Pulaski County, Arkansas, underwent a detailed environmental evaluation. Classroom settled dust samples were analyzed for the presence of common indoor allergens.


RESULTS
Classroom eating (70%), wall-to-wall carpeting (58%), and water damage (33%) were common. Median classroom allergen levels were as follows: dust mite (Der p 1 and Der f 1), 0.6 microg/g; Fel d 1, 0.4 microg/g; Can f 1, 1.7 microg/g; cockroach, below detection; Mus m 1, 0.18 microg/g; and mold spores, 17,800 CFU/g. Can f 1 and Mus m 1 allergens were detected in 100% of HS centers. Facilities with carpeting, increased humidity, and single-use facilities showed trends toward increased dust mite concentrations. Detectable cockroach allergen was more common in classrooms cleaned by teachers than by professional housekeepers.


CONCLUSIONS
Aeroallergens were commonly detected in Pulaski County HS center classrooms, with dog and mouse allergens detected in 100% of centers. Median classroom allergen concentrations were low, and classroom characteristics were not strongly predictive of increased allergen exposure.
Perry
Tamara T
TT
Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA. perrytamarat@uams.edu
Vargas
Perla A
PA
Bufford
Jeremy
J
Feild
Charles
C
Flick
Michael
M
Simpson
Pippa M
PM
Hamilton
Robert G
RG
Jones
Stacie M
SM
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D001131:Arkansas; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust