Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Least Squares Statistical Relationships Between VOC
Emissions from Floor Dust and Mucous Membrane Symptoms and
Table 5.3
Difficulty Concentrating Among Occupants of Office Buildings
Average mucous membrane irritation
Difficulty concentrating
Modeling
power
Modeling
power
VOC
VOC
2-Methylpropanal
0.640
Pentanoic acid
0.562
Hexanoic acid
0.586
Hexanoic acid
0.558
2-Alkanone M
= 142
0.586
Hexanal
0.526
+
3-Methylbutanal
0.498
Heptanoic acid
0.422
Octane
0.412
2-Methylbutanal
0.418
Pentanoic acid
0.375
Butryic Acid
0.380
Heptanoic acid
0.362
Benzaldehyde
0.366
2-Undecanone
0.332
5-Methyl-3-methylene-
5-Hexene-2-on M
0.305
= 124
+
Source:
From Wilkins, C.K. et al.,
Indoor Air,
3, 283, 1993. With permission.
and nonasthmatic emergency room patients in two cities in the U.S. can be
seen in Table 5.4 .
House dust mites are arachnids; they are related to spiders, ticks, and
scorpions. Major species identified in floor dust samples include
Dermatoph-
agoides farinae
,
D. pteronyssinus, D. microceras, Euroglyphus maynei
, and
Blomia
tropicales
.
D. farinae, D. pteronyssinus,
and
E. maynei
are the most common
house dust mites found worldwide.
Dust mites phagocitize (eat) decomposing (defatted) human skin scales.
As a consequence, they are commensal with humans, depending on us for
their food supply. As a result, they are abundant in high-use areas of building
spaces, particularly residences. In temperate regions of the world, high mite
populations occur in carpets, soft furniture, and mattresses.
D. farinae
and
D. pteronyssinus
are the most common mite species found in floor dust
samples in the U.S. Most residences are cohabited with both species, with
one species usually dominating.
Table 5.4
Prevalence (%) of IgE Antibodies to Common Indoor Allergens
Among Emergency Room Patients
House dust
mite
Location
Patient type
Cockroach
Cat
Atlanta, GA
Asthmatic (N=81)
60
26
7.4
Nonasthmatic (N=63)
21
9.5
4.7
Wilmington, DE
Asthmatic (N=114)
32
22
32
Nonasthmatic (N=114)
15
6
5
Source:
Data extracted from Chapman, M.D., Cockroach allergens: a common cause of
asthma in North American cities,
Mosby-Yearbook
, 1, 1993.
 
 
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