National Survey of Lead & Allergens in Housing (NSLAH)

Collection of a floor dust wipe sample for allergen analysis in an Alabama home.

NIEHS in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control sponsored a study entitled the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH). This study provided information to enable HUD and NIEHS scientists to assess the magnitude of the American public's exposure to household indoor allergens. NIEHS conducted the NSLAH in light of recent studies which suggested that cumulative exposure to indoor allergens can increase a person's risk for developing allergic disease and asthma.

NIEHS is using the allergen data from the NSLAH to:

• estimate indoor allergen exposures of the general population
• assess the magnitude of levels of indoor allergens in the United States housing stock
• evaluate differences in population exposure to allergens based on factors such as region/geography, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and housing type.

An NIEHS researcher conducts an immunoassay to measure allergens in house dust samples from the National Allergen Survey.

This study provides important indoor allergen exposure data and seeks to examine the complex relationship between allergic sensitization to indoor allergens and asthma development.

The questionnaire used in the survey is available as a PDF file:

• National Survey of Lead Hazards and Allergens in Housing: Resident Questionnaire

  • In order to view the National Survey of Lead Hazards and Allergens in Housing: Resident Questionnaire, you must agree that if you use the questionnaire or any part of the questionnaire for research purposes, your research will credit the developers of this survey and their sponsors: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

    I AGREE (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/asthma/studies/riskassess/docs/nslah-qx.pdf)   (113KB)

    If you have any questions, contact  Darryl Zeldin

A detailed list of the 75 Population Sampling Units (PSUs) and Strata used in the survey is also available as a PDF file:

• Population Sampling Unit and Strata List (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/asthma/studies/riskassess/docs/PSUTables.pdf)   (71KB)

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