Allergen claims on bedding - re-defining standards with Allergy Standards Limited
Allergen claims on bedding - re-defining standards with Allergy Standards Limited
Allergen avoidance in the home is now accepted as part of preventative medicine for sufferers of asthma and allergic diseases, complimenting the overall concept of home health.
No single approach or maneuver achieves an adequate reduction in domestic allergen levels. This goal can only be addressed using a combination of approaches. The report of the Third International Workshop on Indoor Allergens and Asthma recognized the importance of bedding fabrics in reducing exposure to domestic allergen, stating:
The effectiveness of controlling mite allergens in beds by using encasings is now well established. This is in keeping with the fact that the primary evidence about the contribution of mite allergens to airway disease relates to bedding.'
The individual's exposure to allergen is considerably reduced when mattresses, pillows, comforters, quilts and duvets are encased within mite and allergen impermeable barrier fabrics. While such barriers prevent exposure from within the item of bedding, regular cleaning is advised, for example using a domestic washing machine, to remove the allergen that accumulates on the outer surface. For comfort, effective barriers must also allow adequate water vapor transmission.
More recently, while it has been established that tightly woven fabrics, with a mean pore size of < 10m, may be effective in preventing the passage of allergen, an exclusive linear relationship between pore size and barrier efficiency remains to be confirmed.
These fabrics can be used as the integral outer cover on pillows. Providing they allow adequate water vapor transmission, they are deemed breathable'.
As with barriers, allergen that accumulates on the surface or in the interstices of the cover fabric must be regularly removed by cleaning for example washing the whole bedding item in a domestic washing machine.
Chemicals used in the textile industry to enhance properties of wear and colour may over time act as airway irritants and skin sensitizers. To be considered for certification, products selected to reduce allergen exposure must not contain such chemicals.
Allergy Standards Limited (ASL - International Certification and Standard Body) operate the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program together with the leading asthma or allergy organisation in the country of operation. A bedding item becomes eligible for asthma & allergy friendly certification when its capability to contribute to a Home Allergen Reduction Programme has been demonstrated according to the Principles outlined below.
The outer encasing, an integral component of the bedding item, must provide an effective barrier to the passage of allergen.
Allergen accumulating on the outer surface of the bedding item must be removable by washing in a domestic washing machine.
The rate of house dust mite allergen accumulation in a bedding item under defined conditions must be determined.
The bedding item must have the ability to withstand washing in a domestic washing machine at the indicated frequency.
The outer fabric of the bedding item (ticking fabric) must allow adequate water vapour transmission to ensure user comfort.
The bedding item must not contain chemicals known to trigger allergenic or irritant responses when present above Certification levels.
Testing according to these Principles is performed by airmid healthgroup limited(AHG), a leading testing and claim verification laboratory, and ASL's central partner testing laboratory. AHG's laboratory and R&D facilities are vertically integrated and incorporate wrking withallergens,bioaerosols andparticulates relevant to indoor air quality;they specialise in real life testing using state of the art environmental test chambers.
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Allergen claims on bedding - re-defining standards with Allergy Standards Limited Anaheim