Day care facilities were shown to be an important source for allergen exposure, according to a study featured on the online version of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (JACI). The JACI is the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Indoor allergies have been associated with an increased risk of allergy and asthma development in children. Many studies have examined this relationship using levels found in the child's home since this is where they typically spend most of their time.
Many children also spend a significant amount of time in day care. In 1997, 63% of the country's 19.6 million children under the age of five were in some form of regular child care during a typical week. However, little information is known on allergy levels in day care facilities in the United States.
Samuel J. Arbes, DDS, MPH, PhD, and colleagues from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences examined the levels of seven indoor allergens (dog, cat, mouse, American and European dust mite, fungus, and cockroach) in 89 day care facilities located in two North Carolina counties. At each facility, researchers administered questionnaires and collected dust samples from the room where children spent the most time. They collected either a carpet sample, hard surfaces sample, or one of each if both were present.
Researchers discovered: