The Allergy Clinic
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
Specialists in Allergy & Asthma Care
Caveat Emptor
The Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) used to advertise to doctors in physician journals claiming that carpeted rooms are actually
better for the allergic patient than hard floors. I thought they would extend these ads to the public, but that has not happened
yet. Dozens of scientific studies have been published in peer-reviewed, prestigious medical journals on the value of avoiding what
you’re allergic to. Almost all of them recommend removing carpeted surfaces and putting down tile, wood or linoleum instead.
The references provided by the CRI that support carpeting being less allergenic than hard floors come down to one medical
abstract; it was not accepted for publication in any peer-reviewed journal.
Their argument goes like this: when you walk on hard floors, you kick up pollen, dust mites particles, etc, that get into your
“breathing zone”. On the other hand, according to CRI, carpet traps these particles, thus protecting you from breathing them in.
better for the allergic patient than hard floors. I thought they would extend these ads to the public, but that has not happened
yet. Dozens of scientific studies have been published in peer-reviewed, prestigious medical journals on the value of avoiding what
you’re allergic to. Almost all of them recommend removing carpeted surfaces and putting down tile, wood or linoleum instead.
The references provided by the CRI that support carpeting being less allergenic than hard floors come down to one medical
abstract; it was not accepted for publication in any peer-reviewed journal.
Their argument goes like this: when you walk on hard floors, you kick up pollen, dust mites particles, etc, that get into your
“breathing zone”. On the other hand, according to CRI, carpet traps these particles, thus protecting you from breathing them in.
This is just not true.
By cleaning hard surfaces, you remove the allergens entirely. Carpeting, which provides dust mites with a nice, warm, moist
environment to live, can never be totally cleaned of allergenic particles. Not even close. So keep your carpeting if you can
control your allergy symptoms in spite of it, but don’t install it because you think it will help with your allergies.
environment to live, can never be totally cleaned of allergenic particles. Not even close. So keep your carpeting if you can
control your allergy symptoms in spite of it, but don’t install it because you think it will help with your allergies.
So, while the Carpet & Rug institute puts its opinion all over the internet (including Wikipedia, unfortunately, claiming that carpet
helps allergies and asthma, almost all researchers disagree:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/828622.stm
http://www.drgreene.com/21_1320.html
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/travelingwithallergies.stm
Avoidance of all carpeting and large rugs will also reduce mite allergens
helps allergies and asthma, almost all researchers disagree:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/828622.stm
http://www.drgreene.com/21_1320.html
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/travelingwithallergies.stm
Avoidance of all carpeting and large rugs will also reduce mite allergens
