J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Aug;19(4):505-508. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.505.

Endotoxin and House Dust Mite Allergen Levels on Synthetic and Buckwheat Pillows

• Nam HS
• Park CS
• Crane J
• Siebers R

• KMID: 2157676
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.505

Abstract

Pillows are known to contain significant levels of indoor allergens and endotoxin, that are of importance to house dust mite sensitized asthmatics. Buckwheat pillows are commonly used in Korea. We studied the levels of the house dust mite allergen, Der f 1, and endotoxin on new synthetic and buckwheat pillows and their accumulation over three months. Endotoxin levels were significantly higher on new buckwheat pillows compared to synthetic pillows; geometric mean levels (95% CI) were 60,950 EU/g (30,270-122,700) and 4,887 EU/g (2,570-9,311) respectively (p<0.001). No Der f 1 was detected on the new pillows. After three months Der f 1 levels were similar on buckwheat and synthetic pillows, geometric mean levels (95% CI) were 1.16 microgram/g (0.02-8.13) and 1.08 microgram/g (0.19-1.68) respectively. These results indicate that buckwheat pillows are a source of very high endotoxin levels that may be of relevance to asthma severity of atopic asthmatics.

Keyword

Pillows; Buckwheat; Endotoxins; House Dust Mite; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Dermatophagoides farinae; Asthma; Atopy

MeSH Terms

Allergens/*immunology
Animals
Antigens, Dermatophagoides/*immunology
Asthma/immunology
*Bedding and Linens
*Buckwheat
Dermatophagoides farinae/immunology
Endotoxins/*immunology
Humans
Korea
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Reference

1. Tunnicliffe WS, Fletcher TJ, Hammond K, Roberts K, Custovic A, Simpson A, Woodcock A, Ayres JG. Sensitivity and exposure to indoor allergens in adults with differing asthma severity. Eur Respir J. 1999. 13:654–659.

2. Kemp TJ, Siebers RW, Fishwick D, O'Grady GB, Fitzharris P, Crane J. House dust mite allergen in pillows. Br Med J. 1996. 313:916.

3. Rains N, Siebers R, Crane J, Fitzharris P. House dust mite allergen (Der p 1) accumulation on new synthetic and feather pillows. Clin Exp Allergy. 1999. 29:182–185.

4. Mills S, Siebers R, Wickens K, Crane J, Purdie G, Fitzharris P. House dust mite allergen levels in individual bedding components in New Zealand. N Z Med J. 2002. 115:151–153.

5. Siebers R, Nam HS, Crane J. Permeability of synthetic and feather pillows to live house dust mites and house dust. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004. 34:888–890.

6. Siebers R, Fitzharris P, Crane J. Feather bedding and allergic disease in children: a cover story? Clin Exp Allergy. 2002. 32:1119–1123.

7. Nafstad P, Nystad W, Jaakkola JJ. The use of feather quilt, childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis. A prospective cohort study. Clin Exp Allergy. 2002. 32:1150–1154.

8. Boehlecke B, Hazucha M, Alexis NE, Jacobs R, Reist P, Bromberg PA, Peden DB. Low-dose airborne endotoxin exposure enhances bronchial responsiveness to inhaled allergen in atopic asthmatics. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003. 112:1241–1243.

9. Hall K, Crane J, Siebers R. Endotoxin from synthetic and feather pillows. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002. 110:811.

10. Lee SY, Lee KS, Hong CH, Lee KY. Three cases of childhood nocturnal asthma due to buckwheat allergy. Allergy. 2001. 56:763–766.

11. Hong CS, Park HS, Oh SH. Dermatophagoides farinae, an important allergenic substance in buckwheat-husk pillows. Yonsei Med J. 1987. 28:274–281.

12. Luczynska CM, Arruda LK, Platts-Mills TA, Miller JD, Lopez M, Chapman MD. A two-site monoclonal antibody ELISA for the quantification of the major Dermatophagoides spp allergens Der p 1 and Der f 1. J Immunol Meth. 1989. 118:227–235.

13. Nam HS, Crane J, Siebers R. Clothing-potentially a significant source of endotoxin exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003. 112:624–625.

14. Michel O, Kips J, Duchateau J, Vertongen F, Robert L, Collet H, Pauwels R, Sergysels R. Severity of asthma is related to endotoxin in house dust. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996. 154:1641–1646.

15. Ree HI, Jeon SH, Lee IY, Hong CS, Lee DK. Fauna and geographical distribution of house dust mites in Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 1997. 35:9–17.