Part 3 - Silent Killers in Your Home: Dust Mites

Sometimes it’s not the dust that’s the problem—it’s what’s living in it. Where there is dust, there are probably dust mites, considered one of the most common causes of allergy and asthma symptoms in the world. These tiny insects are about 1/4 of a millimeter in length and practically invisible to the naked eye. They leave behind fecal pellets and shed skin, which are a major allergenic component in dust. They also use dust as a nest to lay their eggs—which one female can easily lay 200 of—because dust is full of skin scales, the dust mite’s primary diet. Around 100,000 dust mites can be living in one square yard of carpet, and one mite can leave behind twenty waste droppings a day. So, are you grossed out yet?

The Health Risks

Okay, so dust mites may not be a killer, but they are definitely a health risk. The proteins which are present in their fecal matter and shed skin can produce allergic reactions in people, everything from itchy eyes and throat to eczema and a full-fledged asthma attack. Exposure to dust mites in the first year of life can also produce a life-long allergic reaction. The mites may be tiny, but the risk can be huge.

Are You a Victim?

Mites need warmth and food to thrive. And beds and soft surfaces such as carpeting and stuffed upholstery provide the perfect environment. Basically, humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dead skin a day—the dust mite’s primary diet. So, wherever humans spend time and collect dead skin, you’ll find dust mites, and you’ll find them in plenty. One mattress can contain 10 million mites. Ten percent of the weight of a two-year-old pillow can be comprised out of nothing but dead dust mites and their droppings. Dust mites love moisture, too. So, if you have a profuse sweater in the family, consider his mattress or pillow a big, fat, dust mite party. It’s disgusting, I know. But, there is something you can do about it.

Take Action

The best way to get rid of the dust mites is to get rid of their home. But don’t resort to sleeping on the kitchen floor just yet. You can still have a comfortable home without gagging every time you think about the little critters who may be sharing it with you. Because bedding is a primary environment, practice vacuuming your mattresses regularly and protecting them with allergy-approved protective covers. Get the mattress covers that completely cover the mattress, not just top it off. If you don’t like the sleek surface it leaves behind, then get a machine washable mattress cover that you can wash it hot water every few weeks.
If you have been using the same pillows for the past two years, it’s time to replace them. Get good, quality pillows (not the cheap foam ones—these only aggravate allergy symptoms) and protect them with allergy-approved pillow covers.

Read Part 1: Mold

Read Part 2: Carbon Monoxide

Read Part 4: Asbestos

Read Part 5: Polluted Water