Smartphone surfaces flush with beta-D glucans, allergens, endotoxins

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Elevated levels of beta-D glucans, allergens and endotoxins can be found on the surfaces of smartphones, according to a poster presented at the American College of Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.

Various cleaners, however, can be effective in removing these environmental hazards, Hana B. Ruran, a research intern at Boston Children’s Hospital and student at Hopkinton High School, and colleagues wrote in the abstract.

“Smartphones showed elevated and variable levels of [beta-D glucans (BDG)] and endotoxin, and cat and dog allergens were found on smartphones of pet owners,” Ruran said in an ACAAI press release.

“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 mold,” Ruran said.

Endotoxins are potent inflammatory agents and markers of exposure to Gram-negative bacteria as well, Ruran continued.

The researchers used electrostatic wipes on the phones of 15 volunteers three times a day for 7 days and measured them for allergens, BDG and endotoxin levels.

Their findings showed “high and variable” levels of BDG and endotoxin, including at levels that have been known to cause allergic and respiratory symptoms. Also, researchers found cat and dog allergens mostly on the phones of pet owners, although one phone had dust mite and cate allergen despite that phone’s owner not having any pets.

Next, the researchers performed cleaning interventions using wipes on simulated phone models.

Cleaning wipes included 70% isopropyl alcohol and Clorox (Procter & Gamble) non-bleach (0.184% benzyl and ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride), which are available commercially; and 0.12% chlorhexidine, 0.05% cetylpyridinium, 3% benzyl benzoate and 3% tannic acid, which are only available in these concentrations through laboratory or chemical suppliers. Wipes that did not use any solution were used as controls.

Wipes in a combination of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium vs. control wipes showed significant reductions in BDG (mean, 269 vs. 1,925 ng per wipe; P < .05) and endotoxin (mean, 349 vs. 1,320 EU per wipe; P < .001), the researchers found.

Also, there were significant reductions in cat (mean, 55 vs. 1,550 ng per wipe; P < .001) and dog (mean, 14 vs. 407 ng per wipe; P < .001) allergens with a combination of benzyl benzoate and tannic acid vs. control, the researchers continued.

Combination mixture solutions had the greatest reductions compared with control, the researchers said.

“The study demonstrates exposure to inhalant allergens and molecules that trigger innate immune reactions from a source most people haven’t considered,” Peter S. Thorne, PhD, professor in the University of Iowa Department of Public Health, said in the press release. “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.”

Reference:

• Smartphones are reservoirs of allergens according to new research. https://acaai.org/news/smartphones-are-reservoirs-of-allergens-according-to-new-research/. Posted Nov. 10, 2022. Accessed Nov. 10, 2022.