THE ASTHMA DEBATE

Claims that carpet has a major impact on asthma have no reliable scientific basis, for the following reasons:

- Asthma is complex and influenced by many diverse factors including pets, genetics, diet, pollen, smoking, infections, pollution and dust mites.

- Airborne dust mite allergen can trigger asthma attacks, but carpet acts as a sink, trapping these particles and reducing the possibility of inhalation. Smooth floors, by contrast, allow allergen particles to settle on the surface, from which they can easily become airborne.

- Dust mites cannot survive in carpets. They require temperatures of 25°C and a relative humidity of 70 per cent. In the UK, these are conditions are normally only found in bedding.

- A good vacuum cleaner will remove most of the allergen, dust and pollutants trapped in the carpet.

- Good ventilation with temperature and humidity control will limit the dust mite population and reduce indoor allergen loads.

- Scientific studies have never proved that the total removal of carpet on its own has clinically benefited asthma patients.

- Where significant decline in carpet use has taken place, asthma cases have increased dramatically. In Sweden where health hysteria led to a 77% reduction in carpet use over a 15 year period, the incidence of asthma increased by over 300 per cent.