Pest Allergens
Exposure to pest allergens from cockroaches, dust mites, and rodents can cause serious allergic and asthmatic reactions. Children are particularly susceptible. Exposure to these allergens at a young age — even in the womb — can increase babies’ and children’s risk of developing of asthma, respiratory symptoms such as wheezing and coughing, eczema, and allergies. It is critical to minimize pregnant women’s and children’s exposure to allergens in order to lower the risk of allergy, asthma, and respiratory symptoms.
Taking dust samples to monitor for allergens.
What We Know About Pest Allergens
Cockroach and rodent infestations occur in many urban areas of the United States. Besides causing annoyance and stress, they are sources of allergens that can lead to asthma and worsen symptoms. These pests carry pathogenic organisms that get transferred to food and surfaces through waste products and bits of shed skin. Pregnant women’s and children’s exposure to these pest allergens can increase risk of allergic sensitization that leads to asthma and other respiratory illness. Pest allergen exposure can also trigger attacks in asthmatics. Following are key findings from CCCEH’s New York City research on pest allergens and children’s health:
- More than half the babies in our Mothers & Newborns Study in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx have been born with an immune response to cockroach proteins that may increase the risk of asthma in certain children (Miller et al., 2001).
- Pest infestation, allergen levels, and pesticide use are higher among women and babies living in the most deteriorated housing (Rauh et al., 2002).
- In the Center's evaluation of the New York City Housing Authority’s intervention to reduce toxic pesticide use in public housing, high cockroach and mouse allergen levels were significantly associated with asthma prevalence among children and adults, controlling for a range of potential confounders (Chew et al., 2006).
Fortunately, CCCEH’s Integrated Pest Management interventions using low-toxic pesticides have been effective at significantly reducing pests and pest allergen levels in homes.
What You Can Do
Making simple changes at home to control pest infestations can help prevent allergy and asthma in children and can reduce triggers for family members with asthma. Read about Integrated Pest Management practices which are easy to use and inexpensive. Following are a few IPM tips:
- Clean and dust your home regularly, particularly in the kitchen area where crumbs and dust can attract cockroaches and rodents
- Clean dust off your child’s toys often with a damp washcloth
- Keep pets in localized areas and away from upholstered furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys
- Keep sensitive children away from pets and dusty areas as much as possible
Resources
More tips on preventing pest infestation in your home:
More information on pest allergens: