A new study presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Louisville shows that the smartphone in your hand can trigger allergies. According to a report issued in 2016, individuals touch their smartphones more than 2,600 times a day. If you are prone to allergies or suffer from asthma, your smartphone may make you ill.
Using smartphone simulation models, the study revealed elevated levels of cat and dog allergens, as well as β-D glucans (BDG), which are indicators of mold that can affect the airways, and endotoxins (protein toxins produced by certain organisms from plants and animals). BDG can be found in the cell walls of fungi, and endotoxins are bacterial toxins present in the environment.
The lead author of the study, Hera Rouran, stated: "Smartphones showed high and variable levels of BDG and endotoxins, and cat and dog allergens were found on the smartphones of pet owners. BDG was found in fungal cell walls and in many environments and surfaces that cause irritating and chronic symptoms in the airways, making BDG a consistent indicator for studying mold issues. Endotoxins are strong inflammatory agents and indicators of exposure to Gram-negative bacteria."
The researchers created models of phones with a similar size and surface to real smartphones and wiped the front surface of the model phone as part of the testing. Electrostatic wipes (ESW) were used to sample the simulated phone models from 15 volunteers, and then the researchers tested the "phones" for allergens, BDG levels, and endotoxins.
