The beds in nearly one in four homes in the United States contain high levels of dust mite allergen, allergy-inducing proteins produced by the microscopic dust mite.
About 23% of homes have high levels of dust mite allergen in bedding and 6% of homes have bedding that contain high levels of cockroach allergen, another allergy-inducing irritant.
Older homes, those that are damp or musty and low-income households are at greatest risk for having high levels of the allergens, according to a survey from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The researchers estimate that dust mite allergen at levels associated with asthma and allergy are present in 23.2 million homes in the United States.
The researchers collected vacuumed dust samples, environmental and demographic data, and health information from surveyed homes and their residents.
Annual American Thoracic Society Meeting San Francisco, CA May 22, 2001