A Study on Indoor Air Contaminants Related to Pets in Japanese Dwellings

Abstract

The behavior of indoor particulate matter as it relates to pets was studied from the viewpoint of architectural hygiene. The viable particles from pets can be classified into two types, pathogenic microorganisms and pet allergens. This study investigated Pasteurella, which is a pathogenic organ of Pasteurellosis, dog allergen Can f1 and cat allergen Fel d1 in eight dwellings in Tokyo. In six of these dwellings (the case dwellings), the dogs and/or cats were allowed free access to indoor areas. Pasteurella and the pet allergens were quantified by biochemical and immunological methods, respectively. The relationship between suspended particles and airborne Fel d1 was also examined. Three species, P. canis, P. dagmatis and P. multocida, were isolated from the oral cavity of the dogs and cats. In the six case dwellings, dust allergen Can f1 and Fel dl ranged from 1 to 1000 μg allergen/g dust and 100 to 5000 μg/g, respectively. The indoor air of the case dwellings contained concentrations of airborne Fel d1 ranging from 10 to 100 ng of allergen/m3 air. In addition, there was a significant relationship between the distributed concentration of suspended particles larger than 5 μm and airborne Fel d1 (P< 0.01). These findings suggest that the traditional reduction method for coarse particles, for example the use of a domestic air filtration cleaner, may be effective in removing airborne pet allergens. © 2006, Architectural Institute of Japan. All rights reserved.