Your favorite pillow is harboring a colony of harmful bacteria and potentially life-threatening fungi, according to a new study.
On average, each pillow contains over 1 million fungal spores, which means that every gram of material holds several thousand spores, the research team found.
Other studies have shown that pillows and other bedding items contain many dust mites—tiny spider-like creatures that feed on fragments of human skin.
“There is a tiny ecosystem operating within your comfortable pillow,” said Ashley Woodcock, the lead researcher at the University of Manchester. “The dust mites eat the fungi, and the fungi use the droppings of these dust mites as a source of nitrogen and nutrients, along with other bits of human skin.”
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Aspergillus fumigatus Fungi |
Woodcock and colleagues examined both feather and synthetic pillows aged between 1.5 and 20 years. The most common fungus found was Aspergillus fumigatus, which is also the species with the greatest potential to cause disease. In fact, it is the leading infectious agent responsible for deaths in patients with leukemia and those undergoing organ transplants. The fungus also exacerbates asthma. Additionally, synthetic pillows contained more fungi than feather ones.
This is not the first study to highlight this issue. A 2000 study by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences concluded that 22 million American households were sleeping on beds with allergen levels (dust mites) exceeding the threshold considered capable of triggering asthma symptoms.
“These findings are significant for individuals with pulmonary allergies or compromised immune systems, particularly those being sent home from hospitals,” remarked Geoffrey Scott, Chairman of the Fungal Research Trust, which funded the study.
To mitigate these impacts, the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recommends that families:
– Use allergen-proof covers on pillows and mattresses.
– Wash pillowcase covers weekly in hot water.
– Vacuum carpets regularly and perform periodic steam cleaning.
T. An (according to LiveScience)
