Ew! Look What's in Your Pillow

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Ew! Look What's in Your Pillow

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This is disgusting. There is a miniature ecosystem of fungal spores

alive and well in your pillow. Should you be worried?

Researchers from England's University of Manchester have discovered

that more than a million fungal spores live in a typical pillow,

including yours, reports the BBC News. Although 16 types of fungi

have taken up residence in your pillow, the most dangerous--and most

common--of all is called Aspergillus fumigatus. It's also found in

the air, basements, household plant pots, compost, computers, ground

pepper and some spices. It's dangerous because it can make you sick

with an illness called Aspergillosis, which is the leading cause of

death in leukemia and bone marrow transplant patients.

Fungi is attracted to your pillow because it's a hot bed of

discarded human skin flakes and dust mite feces. The dust mites eat

the flakes of human skin. The fungi feast on the dust mite feces.

And your head is pressed against it all.

The study: The researchers examined 10 pillows, five of which were

synthetic and five of which were feather, that had been in use for

between 18 months and 20 years.

The results: All 10 pillows had a " substantial fungal load " with

between four to 16 different species in each, reports the BBC.

Aspergillus fumigatus, which commonly invades the lungs and sinuses,

was quite prominent in synthetic pillows. Some of the pillows even

contained bread mold and the kind of fungi that would normally be

found on damp walls and showers. Lead researcher Woodcock

described the inside of a pillow as a " miniature ecosystem. " He told

the BBC, " Since people spend a third of their life sleeping and

breathing close to a potentially large and varied source of fungi,

these findings certainly have important implications for patients

with respiratory disease, especially asthma and sinusitis. "

What can you do?

There is no need to throw out your pillow. The fungi will be present

in any pillow after a short time of use. There is no such thing as a

mold-proof pillow.

Disinfect your pillow.

Cover your pillow in plastic. Hospitals do this routinely.

Put an allergen-impermeable cover on your pillow and mattress.

Wash your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week in hot water.

Get a feather pillow. Feather pillows seem to have fewer fungi than

synthetic pillows, particularly when it comes to a fungus that

exacerbates asthma.

Remember that the fungi found in your pillow are also commonly found

in the environment, so you are exposed to them everywhere--not just

when you lay your head down at night. Pillow fungi probably create

little or no risk to healthy people. The risk is for those who have

a respiratory disease, asthma or a compromised immune system.

The study findings were published in the journal Allergy.