Dust mites

Dampco are not qualified to advise on mites and bugs but here are some useful notes.

….about 80% of people suffering allergic responses are triggered by house dust mites…..

Building Regulations part F 0.30  Ventilation Regulations     2006

      (For a detailed academic paper please click HERE)

November 16, 2007 by Thomas Schmidt 
Précis of a press release 
House dust mite allergy is caused by mites living in the house dust and the allergy is actually brought on by the excrement of the mites. The house dust mites are co-inhabitants of our domestic environment and have nothing to do with inadequate hygiene. Neither do they carry any diseases. After desiccation, the excremental capsules decay into very small particles and join up with the house dust. This allergy-containing dust can then be inhaled by breathing and lead to allergic complaints such as watering or itching of the eyes, coughing, congestion of the nasal mucosa, sneezing attacks, skin reactions and in serious cases to dyspnea and allergic bronchial asthma. If these symptoms occur all year round and if they are particularly severe in the evening or the early morning on rising, this would indicate a house dust mite allergy.
Details on the house dust mite
The two most common types of dust mite in our everyday environment are dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and dermatophagoides farinae. The dust mites belong to the arachnid group. They feed mainly on human and animal skin scale and mould. A human being loses about one to two grammes of skin scale every day, enough to feed 1.5 million house dust mites for a day. Apart from the availability of nourishment, the house dust mite population is encouraged by high atmospheric humidity.

 (http://healthandenergy.com/dust_mites.htm) Click on the image

 

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny organisms with eight legs, distantly related to spiders. You can't see them with the naked eye. Other than triggering allergy and asthma symptoms, they don't cause any harm. They like to live in areas that are warm and humid and can be found in many homes. Some people are allergic to dust mites' decayed bodies and fecal material, which become components of airborne household dust.

 
 It's almost impossible to clear your house of dust, but isn't there something you can do?

There are two ways to try to control dust mite allergens in the home. One approach is to reduce dust mite proliferation by making the home environment as inhospitable to dust mites as possible. The other strategy is to reduce the amount of overall dust in the house.

How can you initiate the first strategy?

First, remember that environments that are moist — such as carpeted Surveys in warm climates — are perfect for dust mites. Mattresses and pillows also are excellent habitats for dust mites. If you're trying to reduce your dust mite exposure, keep indoor relative humidity low — definitely less than 50 percent. Eliminate any water leaks around the house, particularly in the basement. In addition, eliminate surfaces where dust mites can proliferate such as carpeting and upholstered furniture.

Is the bedroom of particular concern?

It is, mainly because most people spend about 8 of every 24 hours in the bedroom. As to the second approach — reducing the overall amount of dust in the house — techniques include putting allergy-proof encasements over the bedding, including the mattress, box spring and pillows. There are newer products that are somewhat more comfortable than plain plastic-bag encasements. Cotton encasements with high thread counts (260 or more threads per inch) can prevent dust mites from crawling in and out of the pillow's interior. They are available at a variety of outlets, such as furniture stores, mattress stores, department stores and medical supply stores. Wash the encasement and your pillow case in hot water (130° F.) at least once each week.
Avoid going to bed with wet hair. Moist hair and bedding attracts swarms of dust mites.
FACTS.....

1. The black stuff round the window and on the walls is a mould growth (fungus) probably Aspergillus niger spp. 

2. The wall paper is peeling because the wall is DAMP! Condensation is probably the most common form of dampness in modern homes.

3. You can see the water on the window but on the wall it is absorbed into the plaster - although when severe you can sometimes see it running down the wall!

4. If you have any of the above then the humidity levels inside your house are high and the house dust mite is present in massive quantities.

5. It is proven that living in these conditions is bad for you and your children’s health - does anyone in your household suffer with chest complaints such as asthma?

6. The house dust mite is one of the major triggers of asthma in people who are allergic to it – that’s approx 80% of asthma sufferers!

7. Reducing condensation not only removes a source of damp and mould but can also lower the house dust mite population because both thrive from high relative humidity levels!
This is the house dust mite Dermotophogoides pteronyssinus. They are only about 0.3mm long so it’s virtually impossible to see them without a microscope. It is the faeces (dung) from the house dust mite which contains the allergen Der p1 which the vast majority of asthma sufferers are allergic to. It therefore makes sense to change the conditions within your home to reduce the numbers of dust mites.

Extract from ehso.com web site
One of the most strongly allergenic materials found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the faecal pellets and cast skins of House Dust Mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. Common causes of allergy include house dust mites, cat dander, cockroach droppings and grass pollen. Symptoms are usually respiratory in nature (sneezing, itching, watery eyes, wheezing, etc.), usually NOT A RASH. However, there are reports of a red rash around the neck. Other allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression.
The wheeze-inducing proteins are digestive juices from the mite gut which are quite potent. An exposure to the mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention. One must control house dust mite levels.
Beds are a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs). A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. (Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings.) Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it. A favourite food is dander (both human and animal skin flakes). Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week. About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes. Also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations.