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Dust Mite
Allergen Control Barriers
Clearance Allergen Control Barriers
from MediBed - Click Here for Great Pricing!
-
 Your
bedding is a prime living environment for the dust mite. Unable to be seen
by the naked eye, Dust mites live on
human skin flakes that accumulate on your bedding, carpeting and other
fabrics throughout the house. Humans
shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week.
Dust Mites require a moist environment to
thrive and this is provided through water vapor released from breathing and
perspiring while sleeping and high humidity room conditions. We spend close
to one third of our lifetime in the bedroom and therefore have a
considerable long term and close exposure to this indoor allergen. It has been
estimated that a mattress can contain millions of dust mites and 10% of a 6
year old pillow's weight may be due to dust mites and their droppings.
In a study
led by scientists at
the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS),
indoor dust from five or six different sites in each of 831 homes
from 75 different areas across the U.S. was collected, along with
demographic and health information of home occupants. Survey results
suggest that over 45 percent of the U.S. housing stock, or
approximately 44 million homes have bedding with dust mite allergen
concentrations that exceed 2 micrograms per gram of dust, a level
that has been associated with the development of allergies. Of
these, over 23 percent of U.S. homes or about 22 million dwellings,
are estimated to have bedding with dust mite allergen concentrations
that exceed 10 micrograms per gram dust, a level associated with the
trigger of asthma symptoms in asthmatics who are allergic to these
allergens.
"This study
suggests that a large number of U.S. homes contain dust mite
allergen levels which pose a significant risk for the development of
allergies and asthma," Patrick Vojta, Ph.D., of NIEHS, said. "There
are housekeeping practices as well as allergen proof bedding covers
that can be used to reduce exposures to high levels of allergens.
For people who are not allergic to these allergens, steps to reduce
exposure may reduce the chance of developing allergies and asthma.
For those who are already allergic and/or asthmatic, steps to reduce
exposure may decrease the frequency and severity of the symptoms of
these diseases."
-
 Since
the bedroom provides the greatest exposure to dust mites and other allergens, one of the major
recommendations in the control of dust mite allergens is to encase your
mattress, boxspring and pillows with dust mite proof barriers. These barriers totally
surround (encase) or cover (fitted) a mattress or boxspring and pillows, providing an
impermeable layer between you and dust mites and their wastes. We have more detailed information on
dust mite allergens and indoor air pollutants in our
Asthma
& Allergies and
Indoor
Air Quality sections of our
Education
Center.
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| Dust Mite
Allergens May Cause:
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- Year-around hay
fever symptoms.
- Asthma
development.
- Chronic
Sinusitis.
- Asthma attacks.
- Eczema
- Headaches
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The primary allergic
reaction from the dust mite is not only the dust mite itself, but the
fecal matter that comes from the dust mite. Considering there may be
millions of dust mites in your bedding and each one produces 20 or more
fecal pellets a day, this can be a substantial allergen exposure. This is
important, as these fecal pellets are substantially smaller than the dust
mite and get broken down into minute particles as we toss and turn on our
bedding. These minute particles then come in contact with your skin and
are inhaled in the lungs. Additionally, females can lay up to 40 - 80
eggs starting the 2-4 month life-cycle all over again!
Common dust mite
barriers fall into three basic categories:
1. Tightly woven
cloth. These can be natural fiber or a combination of natural
fiber and man made fibers. The tightly woven materials have such a
small pore size (openings between fibers) that dust mites and their
waste can not penetrate, yet air and moisture easily pass through
for comfort.
2.
Man made materials
- Materials such as polypropylene provide a unique 3 layer fabric system proven to be effective and comfortable.
These materials act like a filter fabric to trap dust mites and
their waste and allow air and moisture to easily pass through for
comfort.
3. Vapor
permeable vinyl/urethane membrane and other coatings. This type of barrier does not
allow air flow and will cause pillow encasements to balloon around
your head and force air and allergens out of zippered areas. These
products may
be hot on the skin, stiff and uncomfortable because they do not
allow moisture from the surface of our bodies to pass through. The
vinyl/urethane coating may produce an odor and release chemicals
into the air from out gassing.
- Philmont Clean Air
Products
-
 Philmont
Manufacturing has been manufacturing and distributing protective
bedding products for over 25 years and is the leading manufacturer
and supplier of protective bedding serving the hospitality and
healthcare markets. Their product lines cover the needs of infants
to the elderly setting the industry standard for quality and
reliability for controlling dust allergens.
Clean Air® Pillow
and Mattress Encasings provide soft, vapor transmittable, comfortable
bedding products which ensure effective protection against dust and dust
mites. The fabrics are machine washable and dryable, mold and spore
proof. Clean Air® Encasings are comfortable, noiseless and cool. They
fit all sizes of mattresses, boxsprings and pillows.
AllerSoft is designed especially for people suffering from Asthma,
Eczema and other allergies, or for those who just value a healthy way of
living. It guards you and your family against harmful allergen particles
and gives you a restful, healthy sleep.
We
Recommend Covering All Mattresses, Boxsprings, Comforters/Duvets and Pillows for Complete
Protection
- Testing and Research
-
 Clean Air
products have been tested for their effectiveness as a barrier
to dust mites and their waste by measuring fabric pore size
(space between fibers). Dust Mites average 250-300 microns in
size. However, the fecal allergen matter can be 10 microns or
smaller. Movement during sleep can break down these fecal pellet
allergens to sizes much lower than 10 microns. Dust mite waste
may not be the only allergen in your bedroom. Cat allergens
average 6 microns in size. If you allow your pet cat in the
bedroom, you need protection from these smaller size allergens.
Lower fabric pore size means better protection. Click here to
view the Clean Air
Fabric Pore Size
Report.
Clean Air products have also been
tested for their effectiveness after 100 repeated washing and drying
cycles. This guarantees long term protection against dust mite
allergens. Click here to view the Clean Air
Allergen
Effectiveness Report.
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Allersoft Cotton
Blend Allergen Barriers
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more info |
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- 60% polyester 40% cotton
material feels like fine linens.
- Tight weave fabric
construction provides allergen protection without vinyl
or urethane membranes.
- No chemical treatments
applied to fabric.
- Average tested pore size
of fabric is 3.95.microns for maximum effectiveness.
- Unnoticeable under your
sheets and pillow cases.
- Rust proof polyester
zipper completely encloses mattress, pillows and
boxsprings.
- Double needle stitching
for lasting quality.
- Air and water vapor
permeable for comfort. No hot, clammy feeling.
- Withstands high washing
and drying temperatures.
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Lifetime warranty
against defects in materials and workmanship.
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-- NEW ALLERGEN
BARRIER PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT --
Clearance Allergen Control Barriers
from MediBed - Click Here for Great Pricing!
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Polypropylene Allergen Barriers
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more info |
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- 100% Polypropylene material.
- 3 Layer non woven laminate material.
Two layers of spunbond non-woven polypropylene bonded to a meltblown
polypropylene filtration middle layer.
- Maze like filter fabric construction
provides allergen protection without vinyl or urethane membranes.
- No chemical treatments applied to
fabric.
- Average tested pore size of fabric
is 6.85 microns.
- Rust proof polyester zipper.
- Double needle stitching for lasting
quality.
- Air and water vapor permeable for
comfort. No hot, clammy feeling.
- Use as economical allergen protection
or low cost boxspring barrier.
- Made in the U.S.A.
- 5 year warranty against defects in
materials and workmanship.
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-- NEW ALLERGEN
BARRIER PRODUCTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT --
Clearance Allergen Control Barriers
from MediBed - Click Here for Great Pricing!
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