References: Chemical Carpet Treatment

These citations on the effect carpet cleaners and treatments on reducing allergen exposure are provided for allergists and other medical professionals. A full understanding of the role of carpet treatments in allergen avoidance requires a critical reading of the complete text of these and other studies on allergen-avoidance, indoor allergens, miticides, allergen denaturants, and allergic conditions including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.

Mite allergen control with acaricide fails

AUTHORS: Huss RW, Huss K, Squire EN Jr, Carpenter GB, Smith LJ, Salata K, Hershey J

SOURCE: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1994 Jul;94(1):27-32

Summary: Benzyl benzoate, sold as a treatment to kill mites in carpet, failed to reduced measured mite allergen levels in carpets at 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.


Clinical effects of benzyl benzoate in the prevention of house-dust-mite allergy. Results of a prospective, double-blind, multicenter study.

AUTHORS: Kroidl RF, Göbel D, Balzer D, Trendelenburg F, Schwichtenberg U

SOURCE: Allergy. 1998 Apr;53(4):435-40

Summary: Benzyl benzoate treatment of the carpets and clothing of patients with asthma and dust mite allergy did not produce any differences compared to an untreated control group.


Chemical treatment of carpets to reduce allergen: a detailed study of the effects of tannic acid on indoor allergens.

AUTHORS: Woodfolk JA, Hayden ML, Miller JD, Rose G, Chapman MD, Platts-Mills TA

SOURCE: J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1994 Jul;94(1):19-26

Summary: Although tannic acid can denature allergenic proteins, its effect is not as great as previously believed.  The tannic acid interfered with the assay used to measure the allergens, thereby indicating spuriously decreased dust mite and cat allergen levels.

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