Background: To reduce the risk of sensitization and the elicitation of allergy symptoms, it is important to reduce the level of allergens in the home. It has previously been demonstrated that corona discharge, the process by which ionizers produce ions, can destroy the major house dust mite allergen Der p 1.
Objective: In this paper the denaturing efficacy of an experimental ionizer and two commercially available products are evaluated.
Methods: The first test was conducted in an electrically grounded chamber with samples of Der p 1 placed in various positions for 1, 2 and 3 weeks. The second test was conducted in situ in an unoccupied, furnished office room for 1 week. Der p 1 concentration was quantified by two-site monoclonal antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: All ionizers in both tests caused significant reductions in allergen concentration (P < 0.05), reaching a maximum of 92% with the experimental ionizer in the chamber after 3 weeks. The percentage reductions observed in situ with the experimental and the larger commercial ionizer were similar, reaching a maximum of 32% at a distance of 4 m away from the experimental ionizer after 1 week of exposure.
Conclusion: With a revised protocol for use, air ionizers may offer a simple, efficient and inexpensive way to reduce allergen levels in the domestic environment.