Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

A side-by-side comparison of three allergen sampling methods in settled house dust

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 650–656 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Understanding allergen exposure and potential relationships with asthma requires allergen sampling methods, but methods have yet to be standardized. We compared allergen measurements from dust collected from 200 households with asthmatics and conducted a side-by-side vacuum sampling of settled dust in each home’s kitchen, living room and subject’s bedroom by three methods (EMM, HVS4 and AIHA). Each sample was analyzed for dust mite, cockroach, mouse, rat, cat and dog allergens. The number of samples with sufficient dust mass for allergen analysis was significantly higher for Eureka Mighty Mite (EMM) and high volume small surface sampler (HVS4) compared with American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) in all rooms and surfaces tested (all P<0.05). The allergen concentration (weight of allergen divided by total weight of dust sampled) measured by the EMM and HVS4 methods was higher than that measured by the AIHA. Allergen loadings (weight of allergen divided by surface area sampled) were significantly higher for HVS4 than for AIHA and EMM. Cockroach and rat allergens were rarely detected via any method. The EMM method is most likely to collect sufficient dust from surfaces in the home and is relatively practical and easy. The AIHA and HVS4 methods suffer from insufficient dust collection and/or difficulty in use.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zeldin DC, Eggleston P, Chapman M, Piedmonte G, Renz H, Peden D . How exposures to biologics influence the induction and incidence of asthma. Environ Health Perspect 2006; 114: 620–626.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sporik RT, Platts-Mills AE . Allergen exposure and the development of asthma. Thorax 2001; 56 (Suppl II): ii58–ii63.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. National Academy of Science. Clearing the Air, Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures. National Academy Press: Washington DC. 2000.

  4. Nurmagambetov TA, Barnett SL, Jacob V, Chattopadhyay SK, Hopkins DP, Crocker DD et al. Task Force on Community Preventive Services, Economic value of home-based, multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions with an environmental focus for reducing asthma morbidity a community guide systematic review. Am J Prev Med 2011; 41: S33–S47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Krieger J, Jacobs DE, Ashley PJ, Baeder A, Chew GL, Dearborn D. et al. Housing interventions and control of asthma-related indoor biologic agents: a review of the evidence. J Public Health Manag Pract 2010; 16 (5): S9–S18.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Arbes SJ, Sever M, Vaughn B, Mehta J, Lynch JT, Mitchell H et al. Feasibility of using subject-collected dust samples in epidemiologic and clinical studies of indoor allergens. Environ Health Persect 2005; 11: 665–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Muilenberg ML . Sampling devices. Immunol Allergy Clin N Am 2003; 23: 337–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tovey ER, Mitakakis TZ, Sercombe JK, Vanlaar CH, Marks GB . Four methods of sampling for dust mite allergen: differences in “dust,”. Allergy 2003; 58: 790–794.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Hamilton RG, Eggleston PA . Environmental allergen analyses. Methods 1997; 13: 53–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tovey ER, Green BJ . Measuring environmental fungal exposure. Med Mycol 2005; 43 (Suppl 1): S67–S70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Healthy Homes Issues: Asthma, External Review Draft, Version 2. October 11 2001.

  12. Sercombe JK, Liu-Brennan D, Garcia ML, Tovey ER . Evaluation of home allergen sampling devices. Allergy 2005; 60: 515–520.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schonberger HJ, Dompeling E, Knottnerus JA, Kuiper S, van Wheel C, Schayck CP . Prenatal exposure to mite and pet allergens at total serum IgE at birth in high-risk children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2005; 16: 27–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Renstrom A . Exposure to airborne allergens: a review of sampling methods. J Environ Monit 2002; 5: 619–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mansour M, Lanphear BP, Hornung R, Khoury J, Bernstein DI, Menrath W et al. A side-by-side comparison of sampling methods for settled, indoor allergens. Environ Res 2001 Section A 87: 37–46.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wickens K, Lane J, Siebers R, Ingham T, Crane J . Comparison of two dust collection methods for reservoir indoor allergens and endotoxin on carpets and mattresses. Indoor Air 2004; 14: 217–222.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Karlsson AS, Renstrom A, Hendren M, Larsson K . Comparison of four allergen-sampling methods in conventional and allergy prevention classrooms. Clin Exp Allergy 2002; 32: 1776–1781.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lewis RD, Breysse PN . A comparison of the sampling characteristics of two vacuum surface samplers for the collection of dust mite allergen. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2011; 13: 536–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Gore RB, Hadi E, Craven M, Smillie F, O’Meara T, Tovey E et al. Personal exposure to house dust mite allergen in bed: nasal air sampling and reservoir allergen levels. Clin Exp Allergy 2002; 32: 856–859.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Levetin E . Methods for aeroallergen sampling. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2004; 4: 376–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lundgren L, Skare L, Liden C . Measuring dust on skin with a small vacuuming sampler. Ann Occup Hyg 2006; 50: 95–103.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Karlsson HS, Hedren M, Almgvisit C, Larsson K, Renstrom A . Evaluation of Petri dish sampling for assessment of cat allergen in airborne dust. Allergy 2002; 57: 164–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Klitzman S, Carvananos J, Deitcher D, Rothenberg L, Belanoff C, Kramer R et al. Prevalence and predictors of residential health hazards: a pilot study, 2005. J Occup Environ Hyg 2005; 2: 293–301.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Loan R, Siebers R, Fitzharris P, Crane J . House dust-mite allergen and cat allergen variability within carpeted living room in domestic dwellings. Indoor Air 2003; 13: 232–238.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Abraham JH, Gold DR, Dockery DW, Ryan L, Park JH, Milton DK . Within-home versus between-home variability of house dust endotoxin in a birth cohort. Environ Health Perspect 2005; 115: 1516–1521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Wickens K, Mason K, Fitzharis P, Siebers R, Hearfield M, Cunningham M et al. The importance of housing characteristic in determining Der p 1 levels in carpets in New Zealand Homes. Clin Exp Allergy 2001; 31: 803–805.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Chew GL, Higgins KM, Gold DR, Muilenberg ML, Burge HG . Monthly measurements of indoor allergens and the influence of housing type in a northeastern US city. Allergy 1999, 1058–1066.

  28. Topp R, Wimmer K, Falbusch B, Bischof W, Richter K, Wichmann HE et alINGA study group. Repeated measurements of allergens and endotoxin in settled house dust over a time period of 6 years. Clin Exp Allergy 2003; 33: 1659–1666.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Braun-Fahrlander C, Riedler J., Herz U, Eder W, Waser M, Grize L et alAllergy and Endotoxin Study Team. Environmental exposure to endotoxin and its relation to asthma in school-age children. N Engl J Med 2002; 347: 869–877.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Adgate JL, Banerjee S, Wang M, McKenzie LM, Hwang J, Cho SJ et al. Performance of dust allergen carpet samplers in controlled laboratory studies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2012; 23: 385–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Vokjta PJ, Friedman W, Marker DA, Clickner R, Rogers JW, Viet SM et al. First national survey of lead and allergens in housing, survey design and methods for the allergen and endotoxin components. Environ Health Perspect 2002; 110: 527–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Maertens RM, Bailey J, White PA . The mutagenic hazards of settled dust: a review. Mutat Res 2004; 567: 401–425.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Dillon HK, Heinsohn PW, Miller JD (eds). Field Guide for the Determination of Biological Contaminants in Environmental Samples. American Industrial Hygiene Association: Fairfax, VA. 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Adgate JL, Banerjee S, Wang M, McKenzie LM, Hwang J, Ja Cho S et al. Performance of dust allergen carpet samplers in controlled laboratory studies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2013; 23: 385–391.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Allen JG, McClean MD, Stapleton HM, Webster TF . Critical factors in assessing exposure to PBDEs via house dust. Environ Int 2008; 34: 1085–1091.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Arbes SJ, Cohn RD, Yin M, Muilenberg M, Burge HA, Friedman W et al. House dust mite allergen in US Beds: results from the First National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003; 111: 408–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Bryne MA . Suction methods for assessing contamination on surfaces. Ann Occup Hyg 2000; 44: 523–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. American Society for Testing and Materials. Standard Practice for Collection of Floor Dust from Carpeted Floors for Chemical Analysis, D5438-D5494, Annual Book of Standards vol. 11.03. American Society for Testing and Materials: West Conshohocken, PA. 1998 pp 509–515.

  39. Environmental Protection Agency. Sampling house dust for lead: basic concepts and literature review, EPA 747-R-95-007, 1995.

  40. Vorhees DJ, Cullen AC, Altshul LM . Polychlorinated biphenyls in house dust and yard soil near a superfund site. Environ Sci Technol 1999: 2151–2156 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Colt JS, Zahm SH, Camann DE, Hartge P . Comparison of pesticides and other compounds in carpet dust samples collected from used vacuum cleaner bags and from a high-volume surface sampler. Environ Health Perspect 1998; 106: 721–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Environmental Protection Agency Sampling house dust for lead: basic concepts and literature review, EPA 747-R-95-007, 1995.

  43. Ramachandran G, Adgate JL, Church TR, Jones D, Fischer G, Frederikson A et al. Indoor air quality in two urban elementary schools comfort parameters and microbial concentrations in air and carpets. Indoor Air 2002 9th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 30 June—5 July 2002; Monterey, CA.

  44. Ramachandran G, Adgate JL, Banerjee S, Church TR, Jones D, Frederickson A et al. Indoor air quality in two urban elementary schools-measurements of airborne fungi, carpet allergens, CO2, temperature and relative humidity. J Occup Environ Hyg 2005; 11: 553–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. SAS Institute, Inc. SAS: Version 9.3. SAS Institute, Inc: Cary, NC, USA., 2002–2010.

  46. Jin Y, Hein MJ, Deddens JA, Hines CJ . Analysis of lognormally distributed exposure data with repeated measures and values below the limit of detection using SAS. Ann Occup Hyg 2001; 55: 97–112.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Phipatanakul W . Environmental factors and childhood asthma. Pediat Ann 2006; 35: 647–656.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We extend our gratitude to the many residents who welcomed the research team into their homes. We thank Suzanne Gaynor and J Kofi Berko Jr. of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. We also thank Karen Dannemiller, Emily Suther, Vanessa Vasquez, Madeline Abrams and Salwa Masud for data collection and Stephanie Filep and Eva King at Indoor Biotechnologies for their help with laboratory analysis. The Boston Medical Center Institutional Review Board approved this study. This study was funded by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control (grant #MALHH0163-07), but do not necessarily reflect the views of the federal government.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Megan Sandel & Johnna S Murphy

  2. National Center for Healthy Housing, Columbia, Maryland, USA

    Sherry L Dixon & David E Jacobs

  3. Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    John L Adgate

  4. Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York City, New York, USA

    Ginger L Chew

  5. Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Samuel Dorevitch

Authors
  1. Megan Sandel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johnna S Murphy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sherry L Dixon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John L Adgate
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ginger L Chew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Samuel Dorevitch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. David E Jacobs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Megan Sandel.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology website

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sandel, M., Murphy, J., Dixon, S. et al. A side-by-side comparison of three allergen sampling methods in settled house dust. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 650–656 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2014.30

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2014.30

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links