Dust mite control

Chemistry and Industry, Sept 19, 2005

House dust mites are well known for causing allergies, such as asthma and rhinitis. They are prevalent in house dust and found in furnishings and bedding in almost every house, feasting on human skin scales. More than 100 000 mites may be present in a gram of dust.

But it is the faeces of dust mites that contain a major allergen, and each dust mite produces about 20 faecal particles (similar in size to a pollen grain) a day.

Allergies can be cut down by controlling the dust-mite population by thorough cleaning, vacuuming, and treating mattresses, pillows and furniture with insecticides.

Now Kimberly Clark Co in the US has found a way to neutralise dust mite faeces themselves. It has come up with an aqueous solution comprising a botanical extract, such as green tea extract and grape seed extract, that renders the faeces non-allergenic through its protease inhibitory activity. The botanical extract contains a BAPNA-Trypsin Inhibition (IC50xl0 <- 3 > (%, v/v or w/v)) of from about 0.01 to about 500, according to the company.

The solution is simple, cost effective, and doesn't involve the use of messy oils. And atomisation means the solution can easily be used to treat large areas in the home.

European patent application 1562431 (abstract from US2004096525)