“Smartphones showed elevated and variable concentrations of β-D-glucans and endotoxin. Cat and dog allergens have also been found on pet owners’ smartphones,” said Hana Ruran at the American Annual Allergology Conference. β-D-glucans are found in the cell walls of fungi and are an indication of the presence of problematic molds. Endotoxins can cause severe inflammation and originate from bacteria.
Prof. Dr. Peter Thorne of the University of Iowa concluded from the results: “If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you should consider cleaning your smartphone more frequently to minimize exposure to these allergens and asthma triggers.” The research team also offers tips on what to do with : A combination of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium was found to work best to remove β-D-glucans and endotoxins from devices. The combination of benzyl benzoate and tannic acids worked best against cat and dog allergens.
The researchers had made phone models of a similar size and finish to smartphones, which 15 volunteers took and used them to simulate using a smartphone. Using electrostatic wipes, they sampled the “phones” to test for known allergens, β-D-glucans and endotoxins.
Which: DOI 10.1016/j.jacig.2022.10.002