ISSN:
1398-9995
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: The effectiveness of acaricides in homes is controversial.Objective: To determine whether disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT) combined with vacuuming lowers dust mite numbers and their allergens in carpets and sofas.Methods: A 6-month study was carried out with 93 homes, which were randomized into three groups: (i) active, received DOT; (ii) placebo, received water; and (iii) control, received no application. Active and placebo homes were vacuumed weekly. Dust was collected from carpets and sofas at the start of the study and every 2 months thereafter and quantified for live, total mites, and mite allergen levels.Results: At 2 months, live mite numbers in active carpets were 3 ± 1, in placebo carpets 129 ± 48, and in control carpets 177 ± 39 mites/g. The corresponding numbers in sofas were 3 ± 2, 81 ± 31, and 134 ± 45 mites/g, respectively (P 〈 0.001 active vs placebo and vs. control). Live mites in carpets and sofas remained lower in the active group at 6 months (P 〈 0.001). Total mites in active carpets decreased from 555 ± 69 at baseline to 223 ± 32 mites/g at 6 months (P 〈 0.001) and mite allergen levels from 1.36 ± 0.13 to 0.85 ± 0.16 μg/g (P 〈 0.001). Total mites in active sofas remained unchanged, but mite allergen levels decreased from 1.48 ± 0.25 at baseline to 0.7 ± 0.15 μg/g at month 6 (P 〈 0.05).Conclusion: DOT kills mites in carpets and sofas, and, combined with vacuuming, effectively reduces total mites in carpets and mite allergen levels in carpets and sofas.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00100.x
