The Problem: House Dust Mites

What are they, you ask?
House dust mites, due to their very small size (250 to 300 microns in length) and translucent bodies, are not visible to the unaided eye. Through a microscope, one will see many oval-shaped mites scuttling around and over one another. There are eight hairy legs, no eyes, no antennae, a mouthpart group in front of the body (resembles head) and a tough, translucent shell. Mattresses are a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs) because mites thrive in humid levels (70-80% relative humidity) and warm temperatures.

The house dust mite is one of the most significant source of allergens, implicated in allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and dermatitis. One of the more important proteins responsible for the allergic reaction is DerP1, a digestive enzyme found in dust mite feces.

Interesting Dust Mite Facts:

• A typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside
• Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their waste
• Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress
• A favorite food is dander (both human and animal skin flakes)
• Humans shed about 1/5 ounce of dander (dead skin) each week
• About 80 percent of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes
• 100 and 500 individual mites live in a single gram of dust

The Solution >>