Dust Mites at Home and at Work

If you have suffered frequent bouts of allergies of late and it has nothing to do with your eating habits or any underlying medical condition, then there is a likelihood that you have fallen prey to the allergy-causing dust mites! One of the universal causes of dust allergy, the presence of dust mites at home is a common phenomenon – and a stubborn one at that – since the dust mites flourish in human habitation and it is quite an arduous task to eliminate them completely from our dwellings despite undertaking adequate measures. Dust mites are rare in locales with a cold climate as they thrive best when the relative humidity of their environs is significantly higher. This explains why Singapore’s indoor air quality is conducive to their survival – its tropical climate is characterized by year-round warm weather and frequent shower spells.

So, what are these dust mites and what can we do to safeguard ourselves from their ill effects even if we are unable to do away with them completely? Let’s find out.

What Are Dust Mites?

Dust mites, also known as house dust mites, are tiny creatures that belong to the Pyroglyphidae family of mites. They measure about a quarter of a millimeter in length and are quite imperceptible to the naked eye. Dust mites have an affinity for human dwellings and they feed on dead skin cells shed by humans and pets. While the male mite has a life cycle of about 10 to 19 days, the female dust mite enjoys a longer life span of up to 70 days once she has mated. During this time, she has the capability to produce a whopping number of 100 eggs. Consequently, dust mites are able to propagate rapidly if they are exposed to dust, clutter, humidity and other conditions that are beneficial for their growth and reproduction.

Is It Common To Come Across Dust Mites At Home And At Work?

Globally, there is hardly any home that has not had dust mites at some point or other. And neither can one claim confidently that he or she is fully protected from the perils of dust mites at work. With increasing pollution levels and excessive dependence on man-made cooling units and chemically produced synthetic substances, pure indoor air quality is fast becoming a rarity and accumulation of dust is a common sight in most households and offices. The pile of dust, in turn, harbors several types of allergens, dust mites being one of them.

Moreover, these allergy-causing creatures take well to a humid environment and prefer moisture-laden areas such as carpeted corners, upholstered furniture, heavy drapes, quilts, mattresses, and woolen blankets. Dust traps like clothes and soft toys are also conducive for their survival and breeding. An interesting point to note here is that apart from their natural occurrence in offices, dust mites are also transmitted to our office environs passively, especially when a few of the mites or their eggs have made their way to our clothes and we end up donning these mite-infected clothes to our offices. Other than this, the constant foot traffic at our workplace is also instrumental in the spread of dust mites at work.

How Do Dust Mites Induce Allergy?

House dust mites are not parasitic in nature and do not exhibit the ability to burrow themselves under our skin. Contrary to popular belief, it is not really the dust mite itself that causes the allergies in humans but it is the presence of proteins in their feces that is the reason behind the spurt in allergies. It is estimated that the average dust mite produces approximately 2,000 fecal particles during its 10-week life span and around 20 waste droppings are excreted by it every day. These waste droppings or feces contain potent digestive enzymes that trigger wheezing, sneezing, rashes, watery eyes, runny nose and other allergic reactions.

Even after the dust mite dies a natural death, their leftover droppings continue to trigger and aggravate allergic symptoms. Likewise, when the dust mite sheds its outer covering called the exoskeleton, the latter is capable of triggering a host of other allergies. An interesting point to note here is that one gram of dust can contain as many as 1000 dust mites and 250,000 fecal pellets – enough to induce a host of allergies in those who are allergen-sensitive.

Adverse Effects Of Dust Mites

It is a known fact that poor indoor air quality is a key contributor to a plethora of medical conditions and diseases. Often, dust and other indoor air pollutants do not remain confined to the surfaces of our homes and offices but also float in the indoor air whenever they are stirred up due to dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, walking, etc. When we breathe in these harmful allergens, they cause allergic reactions in various parts of our body which include inflammation of our respiratory tract, nose, and skin.

Long-term exposure to dust and dust mites can lead to a spurt in debilitating diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Asthma, in particular, is a long-term disease of the airways in the lungs that has no permanent cure. The disease is characterized by sporadic episodes of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and tightening of the chest – symptoms which may worsen at certain times of the day and maybe moderated by taking medication and avoiding irritants that further aggravate the condition. Those with allergic rhinitis and eczema often encounter a dip in their productivity and concentration ability as their perennial stuffy nose, teary eyes and itchy skin make it difficult for them to focus on their activities effectively.

Steps That Can Help You Safeguard Yourself From Dust Mites At Home And At Work

While it is near impossible to remove dust mites from our surroundings completely, one can still implement necessary steps to keep them in check and minimize their adverse effects. First and foremost, it is important to monitor the presence of allergens that exist in your indoor environment so that you can take remediation steps proactively.

Renowned indoor air quality testing companies such as IAQ Consultants use a dust mite checker to assess and ascertain the indoor air quality in Singapore and appraise their customers within 10 days about possible indoor air contamination in the event that any harmful allergen is detected in the indoor air at a level that exceeds healthy limits. Apart from using a dust mite checker, you can also incorporate the simple practices mentioned below to protect you and those around you from the long-standing and undesirable effects of dust mites.

While decorating your home, opt for furniture made of wood, plastic or vinyl as opposed to soft furnishings. Instead of choosing heavy drapes for your windows, settle for roller shades, blinds, and cotton curtains as they are easily washable and are less susceptible to dust particles
If you have carpets, then seek the expert services of professional carpet cleaners in Singapore for in-depth carpet cleaning at home and at work
Steam cleaning is best suited for carpet cleaning as opposed to dry vacuuming since the former kills the dust mites effectively apart from making your home and office carpets look squeaky clean. In case of dry vacuuming, making use of a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter enabled vacuum cleaner is a better option as it can extract minute dust mites and pollen from the surfaces in an efficient manner
Dust collectors such as stuffed toys, down-filled pillows, comforters, and quilts should be professionally cleaned, especially in your bedroom where you spend a significant portion of your time and are more vulnerable to dust mite allergens
Breathable and allergen-proof pillow, duvet, and mattress covers, made from a tightly woven fabric, are a good investment for your home as they act as a barrier between you and the unhealthy dust mites
Bare bedding (bedding not encased in barrier covers) and washable soft toys should be cleaned with hot water at least once every week, preferably at 60 degrees centigrade or above. Such high temperatures can wipe out the dust mites that survive otherwise at lower temperatures
Upholstered furniture should be dusted and vacuumed at least once or twice a week to clean their surfaces and prevent the build-up of allergens
Since humidity attracts dust mites, using a dehumidifier is a wise option to control the indoor humidity and thwart the breeding of the hazardous mites
Proper ventilation and good air filtration are a must in offices for a safe and productive work environment
Periodic maintenance is essential for the smooth and safe functioning of the air filters, heating, and air conditioning units in our home and offices
If your office building lacks adequate ventilation, then an air purifier can help you purify the surrounding air and keep it free from dust mites, pollen and other allergens

Conclusion

The above recommendations need to be executed diligently for you to effectively control the problem of dust mites and the adverse health effects they cause in your homes and offices. Should you suffer from allergies which do not subside even after these measures are taken, you should seek expert medical advice. An allergy test can easily prove whether you are allergic to dust mites or something else within your indoor environment.