| Exposure to Mouse Allergen in U.S. Homes Associated with Asthma Symptoms Päivi M. Salo,1 Renee Jaramillo,2 Richard D. Cohn,2 Stephanie J. London,1 and Darryl C. Zeldin1 1National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA; 2Constella Group, LLC, Durham, North Carolina, USA Abstract
Background: Most studies investigating the role of residential mouse allergen exposures in asthma have focused on inner-city populations. Objective: We examined whether elevated mouse allergen levels were associated with occupants’ asthma status in a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. Methods: Data for this study were collected as part of the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing. This cross-sectional study surveyed 831 housing units inhabited by 2,456 individuals in 75 different locations throughout the United States. The survey obtained information on demographics, household characteristics, and occupants’ health status by questionnaire and environmental observations. We used a polyclonal immunoassay to assess concentrations of mouse urinary protein (MUP) in vacuumed dust collected from various indoor sites. Results: Of the surveyed homes, 82% had detectable levels of MUP, and in 35% of the homes, MUP concentrations exceeded 1.6 µg/g, a level that has been associated with increased mouse allergen sensitization rates. Current asthma, defined as having doctor-diagnosed asthma and asthma symptoms in the preceding 12 months, was positively associated with increased MUP levels. The observed association was modified by atopic status ; in allergic individuals, elevated MUP levels (> 1.6 µg/g) increased the odds of having asthma symptoms [adjusted OR = 1.93 ; 95% confidence interval (CI) , 1.14–3.27], but we found no association in those who did not report allergies (adjusted OR = 0.69 ; 95% CI, 0.33–1.44) . Conclusions: In allergic asthma, residential mouse allergen exposure is an important risk factor for asthma morbidity. Key words: allergy, asthma, exposure, indoor, mouse allergen. Environ Health Perspect 117:387–391 (2009) . doi:10.1289/ehp.11847 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 6 October 2008]
Address correspondence to D.C. Zeldin, NIEHS/NIH, 111 Alexander Dr., Mail Drop D2-01, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA. Telephone: (919) 541-1169. Fax: (919) 541-4133. E-mail: zeldin@niehs.nih.gov Supplemental Material is available online at http://www.ehponline.org/members/2008/11847/suppl.pdf We thank all participating households in the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing, and we acknowledge Westat Inc. for their assistance with conduct of the field component of this study. This research was supported in part by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 23 June 2008 ; accepted 6 October 2008.
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