Arlian L G, Neal J S, Morgan M S, Vyszenski-Moher D L, Rapp C M, Alexander A K
Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001 Jan;107(1):99-104. doi: 10.1067/mai.2001.112119.
Maintaining a relative humidity (RH) of less than 50% is one recommendation for reducing numbers of house dust mites and their allergens in homes.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether, in a humid temperate climate, indoor RH could be sufficiently lowered to control dust mites and their allergens.
During a period spanning 2 humid summers (May 1998 to October 1999), dust mite and allergen densities were determined in 3 groups of homes. One group (low RH group, n = 23) maintained an RH of less than 51%. Most of these homes used a high-efficiency dehumidifier and air conditioning. A second group of homes (group A) used air conditioning only (n = 19) or air conditioning and dehumidification (n = 5) but did not maintain an RH of less than 51%. A third group of homes (group C, n = 24) controlled climate by opening windows and had an RH of greater than 51%. Normal housecleaning was maintained in all homes during the study.
The low RH group homes started in June with a mean +/- SE of 401 +/- 124 live mites and 17 +/- 3 microg of total Der 1 allergen per gram of dust. After 17 months of maintaining an RH of less than 51%, these declined significantly to 8 +/- 3 live mites per gram (P =. 004) and 4 +/- 1 microg of Der 1 per gram of dust (P <.001). In contrast, group A and C homes exhibited seasonal peaks of 500 to 1000 mites and 40 to 70 microg of Der 1 per gram of dust. At all time points after the baseline sample, the low RH group homes had significantly less (P <.001) allergen than the group A and C homes. After 17 months, allergen levels were more than 10 times lower in low RH homes compared with humid homes.
This study showed that it is practical to maintain an indoor RH of less than 51% during the humid summer season in a temperate climate, and this resulted in significant reductions in mite and allergen levels.
保持相对湿度（RH）低于50%是减少家庭中屋尘螨及其过敏原数量的一项建议。
本研究的目的是确定在湿润的温带气候下，室内相对湿度是否能够充分降低以控制尘螨及其过敏原。
在两个湿润的夏季（1998年5月至1999年10月）期间，对三组家庭中的尘螨和过敏原密度进行了测定。一组家庭（低相对湿度组，n = 23）将相对湿度保持在51%以下。这些家庭大多使用高效除湿机和空调。第二组家庭（A组）仅使用空调（n = 19）或同时使用空调和除湿设备（n = 5），但未将相对湿度保持在51%以下。第三组家庭（C组，n = 24）通过开窗来控制室内气候，相对湿度高于51%。在研究期间，所有家庭都保持正常的家庭清洁。
低相对湿度组家庭在6月份开始时，每克灰尘中平均有401±124只活螨，总Der 1过敏原为17±3微克。在将相对湿度保持在51%以下17个月后，这些数量显著下降至每克8±3只活螨（P = 0.004），每克灰尘中Der 1为4±1微克（P < 0.001）。相比之下，A组和C组家庭每克灰尘中螨的数量季节性峰值为500至1000只，Der 1为40至70微克。在基线样本后的所有时间点，低相对湿度组家庭的过敏原含量均显著低于（P < 0.001）A组和C组家庭。17个月后，低相对湿度家庭的过敏原水平比湿润家庭低10倍以上。
本研究表明，在温带气候的湿润夏季将室内相对湿度保持在51%以下是可行的，这会使螨和过敏原水平显著降低。
