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The psychrometric control of house dust mites: a pilot study

The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK, m.ucci{at}ucl.ac.uk

S.E.C. Pretlove, BSc Hons MSc Arch PhD FRSA

Kingston University, School of Architecture & Landscape, London, UK

P. Biddulph, BSc Hons PhD

The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK, The Martin Centre, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

T. Oreszczyn, BSc PhD CEng MCIBSE MinstE

The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK

T. Wilkinson, BSc Hons MSc DIC

The Martin Centre, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, The Medical Entomology Centre, Shepreth, Royston, UK

D. Crowther, BA Hons MA Cantab DipArch PhD

The Martin Centre, Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

G. Scadding, MA Cantab MD Cantab FRCP

Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK

B. Hart, BSc Hons PhD

The Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, UK

D. Mumovic, Dipl Ing MSc PhD MInstP

The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, London, UK

This paper describes a pilot intervention study on the effectiveness of house dust mite allergen avoidance for 12 asthmatic children (two being controls). In addition to mite allergen removal, the study included tailored advice aimed at reducing mite population growth via changes in moisture production, heating and ventilation habits. This paper focuses on the effects of this advice on household behaviour, hygrothermal conditions and mite populations. The efficacy of monitoring and modelling techniques is also discussed. The study highlighted a number of interrelated confounding factors which have to be addressed in future similar larger scale studies, but the results are promising with regards to the effectiveness of such studies.

Practical application: This study suggests that in temperate climates tailored advice on moisture production, heating and ventilation habits can lead to valuable changes in hygrothermal conditions, which in turn can result in reduced mite populations. However, pre-existing adverse building conditions may hinder such changes, and the effectiveness of tailored advice and of hygrothermal modifications is often difficult to assess. It is therefore recommended that any similar larger intervention study measures ventilation rates and adequately controls for a number of confounding variables — including the effect of changes in outdoor conditions and of the removal of existing mite populations. In this respect, hygrothermal population models can play a very useful role in the assessment of study effectiveness.

Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, Vol. 28, No. 4, 347-356 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0143624407084731


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