More than the bite: Introduction of environmental contaminants into the home by bed bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Histamine is a component of the bed bug aggregation pheromone and was recently identified as an environmental contaminant in homes where bed bug populations are high, posing a potential health risk to humans via skin contact or inhalation. However, it remains unclear how histamine is distributed in homes and if histamine can become airborne. In the present study, dust samples were collected from multiple locations within infested and uninfested apartment units, including the kitchen, the bedroom, bed/sleeping surface, and the air filter. Climb-up traps were placed on the bed to assess infestation severity and visual counts along with information on previous infestations were noted. Infestation severity (categorically ranked as low, medium, or high) was determined based on trap and visual counts. Sampling location had a significant impact on mean μg histamine/g dust, with the highest mean histamine quantified from the bedding material. Infestation severity did not significantly impact histamine quantified at any location. When comparing locations between infested and uninfested units, histamine quantified significantly differed for bed, bedroom wall, and bedroom, but did not differ for kitchen or filter samples. Histamine quantified from homes without active bed bug infestation suggests previous infestations may be contributing to histamine load within homes that persists following eradication. Our work provides insight that the bedroom should be the primary focus of histamine mitigation efforts due to high levels of histamine quantified. Along with future work on histamine longevity, will be important for the development of targeted mitigation strategies of bed bug histamine.