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Distribution, aerodynamic characteristics, and removal of the major cat allergen Fel d 1 in British homes.

Custovic A, Simpson A, Pahdi H, Green R, Chapman M, Woodcock A

Thorax. 1998;53( 1):33-8.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sensitisation to cat allergen (Fel d 1) is an important risk factor for asthma in the UK.A study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of cat allergen inBritish homes, the aerodynamic characteristics and particle sizedistribution of airborne Fel d 1, and the method of removing it. METHODS:Dust was collected from 50 homes with a cat and from 50 homes without acat, and airborne levels of Fel d 1 were measured in 50 homes with a catand 75 homes without a cat. Particle size distribution was determinedusing an Andersen sampler (8 hours/day) in 10 homes with cats. This wasrepeated on five separate days in a house with four cats, and then one,two, four, seven, and 14 days after the cats were removed from the livingroom area. The effect of high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner onairborne levels of Fel d 1 was investigated in seven homes with cats.Samples were collected on two separate days from two rooms of each houseconcurrently, one of which contained the cat, one day with the HEPAcleaner on and the other day as a control. Three one hourly samples werecollected over a nine hour period (baseline, 4-5 hours, 8-9 hours) using ahigh volume dust sampler (air flow rate 60 l/min) and the air sample wascollected onto a microglass fibre filter (pore size 0.3 micron). RESULTS:Fel d 1 concentrations were much lower in houses without a cat than inthose with a cat (260-fold difference (95% CI 167 to 590) in living roomcarpets: geometric mean (GM) 0.9 microgram/g (range 0.06-33.93) versus 237micrograms/g (range 2.8-3000); 314-fold difference (95% CI 167 to 590) inupholstered furniture: 1.21 micrograms/g (range 0.06-61.9) versus 380micrograms/g (range 7.1-6000); 228-fold difference (95% CI 109 to 478) inbedroom carpets: 0.24 microgram/g (range 0.06-2.24) versus 55 micrograms/g(range 0.06-2304); and 215-fold difference (95% CI 101 to 456) inmattresses: 0.2 microgram/g (range 0.06-2.3) versus 55 micrograms/g (range0.06-3400). Airborne levels of Fel d 1 were detected in all houses withcats, and the levels varied greatly between the homes (range 0.7-38ng/m3). Low concentrations of airborne Fel d 1 (range 0.24-1.78 ng/m3)were found in 22 of 75 homes without a cat. Although airborne Fel d 1 wasmostly associated with large particles (> 9 microns, approximately 49%of the allergen recovered), small particles (< 4.7 microns) comprisedapproximately 23% of the total airborne allergen. Total airborne Fel d 1was reduced by 61.7% two days after removal of the cat but this was duepredominantly to the decrease in larger particles (> 4.8 microns) whichfell to 13% of their baseline level. Fel d 1 levels associated with smallparticles (< 4.8 microns) remained largely unchanged on days 1, 2 and 4and then slowly decreased to 33% of the baseline levels at day 14. WithHEPA cleaner a significant reduction in airborne Fel d 1 was observedcompared with the control sampling (GM 5.04-0.88 ng/m3 versus 3.79-1.56ng/m3 at baseline and 8 hours, active versus control group; p = 0.008).CONCLUSIONS: Airborne Fel d 1 was detectable in undisturbed conditions inall homes with cats and in almost a third of homes without cats. In houseswith cats a significant proportion (23%) of airborne Fel d 1 wasassociated with small particles (< 4.7 microns diameter). Removal ofthe cat from the living room and bedroom areas of the home and the use ofHEPA air cleaner reduced airborne levels of cat allergen in homes withcats, but the reduction following cat removal was not evenly spread acrossthe particle size range.

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Published date:
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Place of publication:
ENGLAND
Volume:
53( 1)
Start page:
33
End page:
8
Pagination:
33-8
Access state:
Active

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Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:1d10335
Created:
29th August, 2009, 15:34:34
Last modified:
29th September, 2015, 13:21:45

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