House dust mites - the minute creatures which spark asthma attacks - are found in very high levels in two thirds of homes, according to a survey by the Building Research Establishment. The findings explode the myth that mites, invisible to the naked eye, mostly inhabit mattresses. In some properties more were found in bedroom and living-room carpets. Fewer than one in three homes was below recommended mite levels and one count showed 15,840 mites - 3000 higher than the previous highest recorded. All houses, and 99% of dust sample yields peaked in autumn. House dust mites contribute to 1500 asthma-related deaths each year.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
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We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
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We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
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