Mobile phones have become irreplaceable companions. Now, a study presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) warns that smartphones have become potential receptacles for environmental hazards such as allergens. According to this work, smartphones contain high levels of cat and dog allergens, as well as β-D glucans (BDG) and endotoxin.
“BDGs are found in the cell walls of fungi and have been found in many environments and surfaces to cause chronic respiratory symptoms and irritants, making BDGs a consistent marker for studying problematic mold. Endotoxin is a potent inflammatory agent and a marker of exposure to Gram-negative bacteria,” says Hana Ruran, lead author of the study.
The researchers created phone models with a similar size and surface area to a real phone that was cleaned as part of the test. Electrostatic wipes were used to sample the simulated phone models from 15 volunteers, and the devices’ allergen, BDG, and endotoxin levels were then measured.
The chemicals used in the cleaning mix solutions (chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, tannic acid, and benzyl benzoate) can be purchased from laboratory or chemical suppliers, but are not commercially available in the same concentrations. than those used in the study. The cleaning properties of isopropyl alcohol wipes were also tested.
“The chlorhexidine/cetylpyridinium combination was the most effective in reducing BDG and endotoxin, and the benzyl benzoate/tannic acid combination most effectively reduced cat and dog allergens on smartphones,” he notes. Peter Thorneprofessor at the University of Iowa (USA) and co-author of the study.
Smartphones contain elevated levels of cat and dog allergens, as well as β-D glucans (BDG) and endotoxin
“The work demonstrates exposure to allergens and inhalant molecules that trigger innate immune reactions from a source that most people have not been aware of. If you have allergies or asthma, you may need to clean your smartphone more often to minimize exposure to these allergens and asthma triggers.”