Activated Charcoal Suppresses Breeding of the House Dust Mite, Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus, in Culture.
10.3346/jkms.2007.22.2.383
- Author:
Hae Seon NAM
1
;
Robert SIEBERS
;
Sun Hwa LEE
;
Sung Ho KIM
;
Sang Han LEE
;
Julian CRANE
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Parasitology and Allergy, Soonchunghyang University, Cheonan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus;
House Dust Mite;
Activated Charcoal;
Survival;
Allergy
- MeSH:
Pyroglyphidae/*drug effects/*growth & development;
*Pesticides;
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug;
Charcoal/*administration & dosage;
Breeding;
Animals
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2007;22(2):383-385
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
House dust mite sensitized asthmatics are advised to practice allergen avoidance. Charcoal pillows are used in Korea with unsubstantiated claims regarding their efficacy in alleviating asthma symptoms. We tested the effects of activated charcoal on breeding of house dust mites in culture. Twenty live adult house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) were inoculated, 10 replicates, on culture media containing 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, and 20% activated charcoal and incubated at 25 degrees C and a relative humidity of 75%. After four weeks, the mean numbers of live house dust mites were 286, 176, 46, 16, 7, and 0 for the 0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, and 20% charcoal-containing culture media, respectively. Thus, activated charcoal suppresses breeding of house dust mites and offers a new promising method for house dust mite control.
