Smartphones are reservoirs of toxins and allergens

By Danny Halpin via SWNS

Smartphones are "reservoirs of allergens" and other toxins and should be cleaned regularly, according to a new study.

Millions of people in the UK now carry smartphones and they have become central to modern life.

A recent report by the app monitoring firm App Annie found that on average people spend 4.8 hours a day looking at their small screens.

Now researchers have discovered that their handheld gadgets can accumulate allergens and other environmental toxins.

The study revealed that phones contain elevated levels of cat and dog allergens as well as β-D glucans (BDG) and endotoxin.

Presenting her findings at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology annual meeting in Kentucky, lead author of the study Hana Ruran of Boston Children’s Hospital said: “Smartphones showed elevated and variable levels of BDG and endotoxin, and cat and dog allergens were found on smartphones of pet owners.

“BDGs are found in fungal cell walls and have been found in many environments and surfaces causing chronic airway and irritant symptoms – making BDGs a consistent marker to study problematic mould.

“Endotoxin is a potent inflammatory agent and a marker of exposure to Gram negative bacteria.”

To conduct the study, the researchers created phone models that had a similar size and surface to a real phone and the front surface of the phone model was wiped as part of the test.

Electrostatic wipes (ESW) were used to take samples sample from models used by 15 volunteers which were then measured for allergens, BDG and endotoxin levels.

The chemicals used in the solutions for cleaning (chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride, tannic acid and benzyl benzoate) can be bought from laboratory or chemical suppliers.

They are not commercially available in the concentrations as used in the study.

Isopropyl alcohol wipes were also used to test their ability to clean.

Dr. Peter Thorne of the University of Iowa and the study’s co-author said: “Combination chlorhexidine/cetylpyridinium was the most effective in reducing BDG and endotoxin and combination benzyl benzoate/tannic acid most effectively reduced cat and dog allergens on smartphones.

“The study demonstrates exposure to inhalant allergens and molecules that trigger innate immune reactions from a source most people haven’t considered.

“If you have allergies or asthma, you may want to think about cleaning your smartphone more often to minimize exposure to these allergens and asthma triggers.”