[17
SEP 98] COURTAULDS / AKZO NOBEL PRESS RELEASE
Cut Down On Your Bed PartnersToday, AMICOR
has released new findings researched in association with the Entomology department of
Cambridge. The startling facts reveal that fabrics containing the new Courtaulds fibre,
AMICOR Plus, are able to break the cycle of the dust mite which causes increasing health
problems in the home such as asthma.
The Life Cycle
Human skin cells are shed daily and form dust in our beds
during sleep. In order for this dust to become edible by mites it needs to be softened and
transformed into a more nutritious form, which is done by fungi. Humans produce half a
litre of perspiration per night. This sinks into the bed and, coupled with the body
warmth of the human environment, provides ideal surroundings for the the fungi to process
the skin and therefore for the dust mites to thrive.
On average there are up to 2 million mites in the bed
alone. It is the allergen DER P1 found in dust mite droppings that causes the real
problems. The droppings, which are invisible to the eye, become airborne and pass through
textiles and bedding and are breathed into our lungs as we sleep.
Even though bedding is changed frequently most people do
not wash their pillows and cannot clean within the mattress so fresh bedding is going onto
dirty beds. How old is your pillow? The accumulation of allergen over time causes major
problems, and is often at its height during late summer.
Dust Mite Growth
Dust mites are more prolific than ever due to the modern
home. Central heating, ensuite bathrooms and sealed windows all contribute to the ideal
environment for the growth of fungi and therefore dust mites. The effects of this allergen
are affecting more and more people each year and include asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis
(blocked nose).
Asthma sufferers are well educated in the effects of DER
P1, but for most of us the effects are not usually considered an issue. How many times do
you wake up feeling blocked up? This could be caused by the dust mite allergen. Children
are particularly affected with 1 in 5 in Western Europe having asthma - a figure which is
currently growing.
A New Generation
AMICOR Plus is the first product to break the life cycle in
a harmless way. AMICOR Plus contains an anti-fungal additive which prevents the skin
becoming a vital food source and is the only fibre of its type. AMICOR Plus can be blended
into mattresses, duvet and pillow fillings, mattress covers, sheets and pillowcases,
creating a 'holistic' approach to a cleaner and healthier bed. Asthma often begins during
the first eighteen months of a child's life because of the presence of DER P1. A new bed
containing AMICOR could prevent asthma from starting at source, and we could see a
decrease in asthma in the next generation of children, if bedding containing AMICOR Plus
is used.
MORE INFORMATION: Sandra Nolan
0171 836 6666 |
