title: Effects of microwave radiation on house dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae (Astigmata: Pyroglyphidae).
abstract: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae mites are commonly found in house dust, and are important sources of allergens affecting humans. Various approaches to killing the mites have been examined. This study investigated the mortalities of adult mites exposed to 2,450 MHz microwave radiation produced by 3 ovens at various exposure times and power settings. The ovens all had 3 power settings. The average maximum water temperatures generated at high, medium and low power settings were 99.4 +/- 0.2, 84.1 +/- 0.4 and 44.8 +/- 0.9 degrees C, respectively. At high and medium settings, there was 100.0% mortality in both species when exposed for 300 seconds. The mean mortality rates at low power were 10.8 +/- 0.7% for D. pteronyssinus and 9.7 +/- 2.6% for D. farinae. When mites were exposed in the presence of culture media, the mortality rates decreased with increasing weight of media. The mean mortality with the largest amount of media tested at high power setting was 61.4%.
authors.affiliation: Acarology Unit, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. erniee@imr.gov.my
authors.forename: F C L
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ernieenor
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000528:radiation effects; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves; D010571:Pest Control; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000528:radiation effects*