| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M93963/01 |
| Title: |
A HYGROTHERMAL MODEL FOR PREDICTING HOUSE-DUST MITE RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN DWELLINGS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Crowther, Dr D |
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| Department: |
Architecture |
| Organisation: |
University of Cambridge |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2000 |
Ends: |
30 June 2002 |
Value (£): |
96,836
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Building Ops & Management |
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Antigens derived from house-dust mite faeces are a major cause of allergic sensitisation in the UK. It is known that temperature and humidity play an important role in house-dust mite physiology and consequently there is considerable interest in reducing mite populations in dwellings by controlling the internal environment. However, the mite's micro-environment within bedding is different from the room environment, although coupled to it, and is constantly changing. This proposal seeks to develop a hygrothermal model that simulates this dynamic interaction, based on laboratory tests and field study measurements. Combined with a dynamic model of mite physiology, this can then be used to predict mite response to changes, such as in building insulation, the heating/ventilation regime, occupant behaviour, etc. In this way the most effective and widely applicable measures from reducing mite populations can be determined. The model will be developed for use by practitioners as a simplified predictive tool, of benefit to allergy sufferers, Environmental Health Officers and Local Authorities, medical researchers, building designers, energy consultants and policy makers.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cam.ac.uk |