Allergen avoidance does not alter airborne cat allergen levels in classrooms

Background:  Some schools in Sweden offer allergen avoidance classrooms for allergic children with severe asthma. However, the measures commonly used to achieve a reduction in allergen levels have not been properly evaluated. The aim of the present prospective study was to study whether the levels o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Allergy (Copenhagen) 2004-06, Vol.59 (6), p.661-667
Main Authors: Karlsson, A.‐S., Renström, A., Hedrén, M., Larsson, K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis
airborne
allergen avoidance
allergen sampling
Allergens - analysis
Allergic diseases
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
cat allergen
Cats - immunology
Child
Environment, Controlled
Fel d 1
Humans
Immunopathology
Inhalation Exposure - analysis
intervention
Medical sciences
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
personal air sampling
pet ownership
Petri dish
Prospective Studies
school
Schools
Sweden
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Summary:Background:  Some schools in Sweden offer allergen avoidance classrooms for allergic children with severe asthma. However, the measures commonly used to achieve a reduction in allergen levels have not been properly evaluated. The aim of the present prospective study was to study whether the levels of airborne cat allergen are altered after introducing feasible intervention measures in classrooms, without interfering with peoples’ freedom of choice regarding pet ownership. Methods:  Twenty‐five classes, including five established allergy prevention classrooms participated in the study during a school year. After one term, six classes underwent a number of intervention measures recommended by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. Curtains, upholstery and plants were removed, bookshelves were replaced with cupboards and regular cleaning was increased. Airborne dust was collected weekly (32 weeks) using duplicate Petri dishes (n = 1574) and on six occasions using two personal air samplers in each class (n = 264). Results:  Airborne cat allergen levels were showing a similar variability throughout the whole study in all classes. Despite extensive measures in order to reduce allergen exposure, cat allergen levels were unaltered in the six classes after intervention. Allergen levels were not significantly lower in the established allergy prevention classes, compared with the other classes. Cat allergen levels differed, however, significantly between classes with few and many cat owners (P 
ISSN:0105-4538
1398-9995
DOI:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00519.x