Method for Determining Airborne Allergen Concentrations Generated During Household Dusting and Its Application

Abstract

RATIONALE: As hand dusting of hard surfaces can disturb indoor allergens present on those surfaces, we developed a method to determine the airborne concentration of indoor allergens generated during dusting and demonstrate its application using a dry cloth alone and dry cloth plus Swiffer® Dust and Shine furniture spray. METHODS: Air monitoring filters collected during dusting of a hard surface laden with allergen containing dust were extracted and analyzed using Fluorescent Multiplex Array for indoor allergens (MARIA™) for the presence of Der p1, Der f1, Fel d1 and Can f1. Results obtained from dusting with a dry cloth were compared with those obtained from dusting using a dry cloth plus Swiffer® Dust and Shine furniture spray. RESULTS: Method validation results for the determination of allergen levels in air filter extracts demonstrated excellent recovery, precision, accuracy, specificity, selectivity and re-assay reproducibility. Further, the use of Swiffer® Dust & Shine furniture spray reduced significantly the amount of indoor allergens from dust mites, cats, and dogs made airborne during hand dusting vs. dusting with a dry cloth alone (n = 10 experiments per treatment) (p = < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A method has been developed to measure the amount of airborne allergens generated during household dusting. Dusting with Swiffer® Dust & Shine reduces significantly the amount of aeroallergen generated during hard surface dusting vs. dusting with a dry cloth alone.