Concentrations of cat and dust-mite allergens in dust samples from 92 large US office buildings from the BASE Study

摘要

The concentrations of cat (Fel d1) and dust-mite (Der f1 and Der p1) allergens were measured in 92 large office buildings in the US Environmental Protection Agency's Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) Study (251 dust samples; one to four samples per building). Fel d1 was detected in almost all buildings and samples (91 buildings, 99%; 235 samples, 94%; range: < 0.01-19 μg/g; median: 0.3 μg/g). Cat allergen exceeded 1 μg/g (a lower symptom threshold) in 56 samples (22%) from 45 buildings, but exceeded 8 μg/g (a sensitixation threshold) in only two samples (1%) from two buildings. Der f1 or Der p1 was found in approximately half of all buildings and samples (63 and 70% of buildings; 45 and 51% of samples; range: < 0.01-53 蘥/g and < 0.01-25 μg/g; median: < 0.02 and 0.03 μg/g, respectively). Mite allergen exceeded -2 μg/g (a sensitization threshold) in seven samples (3%) from five buildings and exceeded 10 μg/g (a symptom threshold) in three samples (1%) from three buildings. Fel d1 concentration was significantly higher in samples collected in summer (June to September, 48 buildings), but cat allergen was not correlated with either mite allergen. Der f1, but not Der p1, concentration tended to be higher in samples collected in winter (December to April, 44 buildings), and the two mite allergens were significantly correlated only in winter. Cat and mite allergens were detected in 78% of representative US office buildings, but the concentrations seldom exceeded levels associated with sensitization or symptom provocation.