Journal article
Rodent allergen in Los Angeles inner city homes of children with asthma
Journal of urban health, Vol.85(1), pp.52-61
01/2008
DOI: 10.1007/s11524-007-9232-0
PMCID: PMC2430140
PMID: 18004665
Abstract
Recent studies have examined the presence of mouse allergen in inner city children with asthma. Researchers have found high levels of rodent allergen in homes sampled in the northeast and midwest United States, but there has been considerable variation between cities, and there have been few studies conducted in western states. We evaluated the frequency of rodent sightings and detectable mouse allergen and the housing conditions associated with these outcomes in inner city homes in Los Angeles. Two hundred and two families of school children, ages 6-16 living in inner city neighborhoods, participated in the study. Families were predominantly Latino (94%), and Spanish speaking (92%). At study entry, parents completed a home assessment questionnaire, and staff conducted a home evaluation and collected kitchen dust, which was analyzed for the presence of mouse allergen. Fifty-one percent of homes had detectable allergen in kitchen dust. All 33 families who reported the presence of rodents had detectable allergen in the home and were also more likely to have increased levels of allergen compared to those who did not report rodents. Unwashed dishes or food crumbs, lack of a working vacuum, and a caretaker report of a smoker in the home were all significantly associated with a greater risk of rodent sightings or detectable allergen (P<0.05). Detached homes were significantly more likely to have detectable allergen. The prevalence of allergen is common enough that it may have public health implications for asthmatic children, and detectable allergen was not routinely identified based on rodent sightings. Many of the predictors of rodent allergen are amenable to low-cost interventions that can be integrated with other measures to reduce exposure to indoor allergens.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Rodent allergen in Los Angeles inner city homes of children with asthma
- Creators
- Jill Berg - School of Nursing at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. jpberg@uci.eduRob McConnellJoel MilamJudith GalvanJenny KotlermanPeter ThorneCraig JonesRonald FerdmanPeyton EgglestonCynthia RandMary Ann LewisJohn PetersJean Richardson
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of urban health, Vol.85(1), pp.52-61
- Publisher
- United States
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11524-007-9232-0
- PMID
- 18004665
- PMCID
- PMC2430140
- ISSN
- 1099-3460
- eISSN
- 1468-2869
- Grant note
- K01 NR008039 / NINR NIH HHS 5P01ES009581 / NIEHS NIH HHS P01 ES009581 / NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES007048 / NIEHS NIH HHS K01-NR008039 / NINR NIH HHS 5P30ES007048 / NIEHS NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2008
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9983997306302771
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