It has long been green mantra, “energy efficiency” but it really just means “poorly ventilated”. Add in the loss of useful (and ubiquitous) pesticides and you get homes replete with allergens – and people suffering allergies.
Millions suffer ‘home fever’ as allergy epidemic begins to bite – They are the spider-like creatures eager for your warmth and a bed for the night. They remain invisible to the naked eye. And millions of them may already have taken up residence in your home.
Now the house dust mite is behind an unprecedented rise in household allergies, with at least 12 million Britons allergic to their own homes, according to new research.
Cases of perennial allergic rhinitis – known as “home fever” – have risen dramatically, with dust mites accounting for 58 per cent of all household allergies. The figure has risen by more than 10 per cent over the past year.
The charity Allergy UK polled 1,600 people as part of an attempt to gain wider insight into the rise of household allergies. It showed 31 per cent of the nation was allergic to mould, while 45 per cent cited a pet allergy. Some 30 per cent of people are also allergic to chemicals in cleaning products.
But dust mites remain the largest problem. The microscopic creature is thought to have thrived with the rise of modern homes, especially those incubated by central heating with little ventilation. Their presence is strongest in the bedroom, where a single mattress apparently contains more than two million dust mites. (Independent)
