title: Classroom aeroallergen exposure in Arkansas head start centers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, USA. perrytamarat@uams.edu
authors.forename: Tamara T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Perla A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bufford
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feild
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flick
authors.forename: Pippa M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Stacie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust