Most of us spend over 90% of our time indoors, but don't really consider the fact that our homes can be a potential minefield of substances that cause either allergic reactions or chemical sensitivity.
In the last 40 years, the home environment has changed considerably with the popularity of fitted carpets, soft furnishings and central heating. Combined with the fact that our homes are less well ventilated than before, these changes have led to a huge increase in indoor allergies. So what are the main culprits, and what can be done to limit their impact?
1. House-dust mite
This is the most common household allergy, causing sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes. Dust mites live in house dust, those tiny specks that you see floating in the air when the sun shines through a window. It is actually the waste products of dust mites that cause the problem. House dust settles quickly, so furniture, bedding, fluffy toys and carpets are teeming with dust mites and their little bundles of waste, as are almost all horizontal surfaces in the house.
Simple measures to reduce the problem include regular damp dusting of shelves, window ledges etc, and reducing clutter to a minimum to enable you to do this quickly and easily. Limit fluffy toys in the bedroom, and keep bedding simple - a duvet and pillows (preferably not feather or down). Layered bedding, with blankets and bedspreads, is heaven for the dust mite. Consider using mite-proof mattress and pillow covers that can be removed and washed frequently.
Wash all bedding weekly, at a minimum temperature of 55 degrees, and vacuum carpets and furniture at least once a week.
Consider attaching a filter to your vacuum cleaner, as ordinary machines tend to stir up fine particles. Use a microfiltration vacuum bag, or attach an external filter, or consider buying a machine with a filtration system next time.
Air filters are useful for removing dust from the air, but have little impact on dust-mite allergy, as only a small proportion of house dust is in the air, compared with the amount that has settled.
2. Pet allergy is the second most common household allergy. Cats are much more allergenic than dogs, but small pets like rabbits and hamsters can also be a problem. Animals shed dander (dead skin cells), which becomes part of the house dust, and animal hair also has separate allergens. The radical solution is to get rid of the offending pet, but this is hardly ever an acceptable option, so damage limitation is necessary. Avoiding close contact and petting, keeping animals out of bedrooms, limiting the areas of the house that the animal can go into, combined with frequent vacuuming and damp dusting can make a significant difference. There are also pet allergy products available for wiping the animal's coat with, to reduce allergen shed.
3. Moulds are another common source of household allergy. They thrive in humid atmospheres, so using a de-humidifier can help to discourage mould growth. Good old-fashioned ventilation also helps.
4. True skin allergy can be caused by latex in rubber gloves, and products like hair dyes, perm lotion and setting lotion. Clothing dyes, especially dark blue, and leather dyes used in shoes can be a problem. Nickel in keys, coins and clothing studs is another common allergen.
5. Chemical sensitivity
Our highly chemical household environments can cause a variety of sensitivity symptoms, ranging from sore throats, eye irritation and coughs, through to skin rashes and dermatitis. These are not true allergic reactions, involving antibodies, but are due to the chemical-irritant potential of the products used. These sensitivities are, however, usually described as 'allergies' by the sufferer.
Most household cleaning products can cause sensitivity in susceptible people, including biological washing powders and fabric conditioners. Other causes of sensitivity include aerosols and solvents. Even some toiletries can affect a few individuals, and some sufferers develop what is described as multiple chemical sensitivity.
People with sensitivity problems need to find non-irritant alternatives to the chemical products that are used in the home.
The British Allergy Foundation offers information and advice to sufferers of allergy and chemical sensitivity. It has put together a useful list of alternatives to a whole range of household cleaning chemicals; find it at the Allergy Foundation.
