Dog allergen in indoor air and dust during dog shows.

Abstract

Dog dander is one of the most important indoor allergens in Nordic countries. Due to the population flow into cities, the number of dogs in urban areas has increased. Dog allergens can be found practically everywhere indoors. We measured allergen content in indoor air and dust during dog shows. In facilities used for dog shows, the dog allergen content was exceptionally high, up to 2,100,000 ng Can f 1/g dust, but it can be reduced by proper cleaning. The efficiency of cleaning will remain poor if furniture and textiles are not cleaned or the distribution of airborne allergen cannot be prevented. Dog shows should not be held in public facilities, such as schools, where a significant proportion of occupants are hypersensitive to dog allergens and may therefore suffer symptoms due to the exposure to dog dander.