What are Allergens &
Asthma Triggers?
Allergen contaminants include
mold, animal dander and cat saliva, dust mites, and cockroaches. There are many
sources of these pollutants; household pets are sources of saliva and animal
dander. Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding grounds
for mold, mildew, and other sources of biological contaminants and can then
distribute these contaminants through the home.
By controlling the relative
humidity level in a home, the growth of some sources of biological contaminants
can be minimized. A relative humidity of 30-50 percent is generally recommended
for homes. Standing water, water-damaged materials, or wet surfaces also serve
as a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria, and insects. House dust
mites, the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in
damp, warm environments.
Some biological contaminants
trigger allergic reactions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic
rhinitis, and some types of asthma. Allergic reactions occur only after repeated
exposure to a specific biological allergen. However, that reaction may occur
immediately upon re-exposure or after multiple exposures over time. As a result,
people who have noticed only mild allergic reactions, or no reactions at all may
suddenly find themselves very sensitive to particular allergens. Children,
elderly people, and people with breathing problems, allergies, and lung diseases
are particularly susceptible to disease-causing biological agents in the indoor
air.
The EPA (US
Environmental Protection Agency) lists the following as the Top Indoor
Environmental Allergens and Asthma Triggers:
-
Second hand
cigarette smoke
-
Pets -
warm-blooded mammalian
-
Cockroaches
-
Dust mites
-
Molds
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