In-depth look at the the nitty-gritty of irritants

By REBECCA WALSH

Researchers will get among the nitty-gritty of carpets and other floor coverings to find out which are more likely to cause asthma.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world - one in six people have it and it is the most common cause of hospital admissions for children.

Doctors believe allergies are the most common and important risk factor for the development of the disease in adults and children.

In July, researchers at the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand will start looking at ways of reducing the problems caused by allergens such as mites, fungi and bacteria.

"We are interested in how do you remove them from textiles? Are there some sorts of textiles that have a greater predisposition to building up levels of pollutants?" lead researcher Simon Causer said.

Soft floor coverings usually contained more allergens than hard floor coverings but researchers would be checking to see if the mites and bacteria on hard floors were more easily disturbed by people walking over them.

Mr Causer said the researchers would investigate if there was a treatment that could be incorporated into the manufacture of textile floor covering that would breakdown or destroy pollutants.

They would also look at practical solutions, for example, was steamcleaning more effective at removing allergens than vacuuming and was it easier to remove allergens from low-pile or high-pile carpet.

The project is one of many being funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology as part of its investment in "built environments".

Asthma Foundation medical director Professor Ian Town welcomed the research saying it could benefit asthma sufferers but only in conjunction with other measures.

Bedding was one of the main sources of house mites and people could benefit from barrier covers on pillows.

As well as looking at ways of reducing the number of allergens in peoples' homes, Mr Causer and his team were working on methods of reducing gaseous air pollutants like formaldehyde, which was given off by building products such as chipboard, and the flammability of interior furnishings.

Mr Causer said a number of harmful gases were given off in the indoor environment that were a "general health concern" and many people were unaware of them. New carpets and paint emitted particular smells. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide resulted from combustion.

Research had shown carpet absorbed some gases, acting as a kind of filter, but researchers wanted to know how it could be improved.

"Could modification of the textile happen so it actually destroys indoor air pollutants rather than simply absorbing them?"

The third arm of the research would involve creating affordable fire resistant furnishings.

About a dozen researchers will be involved in the areas of study.