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- Your smartphone is a haven for allergens, say the researchers behind a new study.
- Everyone should clean their smartphones and devices on a regular basis.
- However, if you're prone to allergies or have asthma, these findings are especially important for you.
We take our smartphones everywhere, and while that's okay, we may forget that it's also a breeding ground for germs. Past research has shown that our phones are far dirtier than we think: one study by scientists at the University of Arizona found that your phone is ten times dirtier than most toilet seats. Gross.
Harvard University also highlights that only one in 20 people clean their phone more than twice a year, while News24 previously explained that bacteria love warmth and your phone battery creates the perfect warm breeding ground for (relatively harmless) bacteria that may lead to an unnecessary bout of the cold or even a spurt of acne.
READ MORE | These are the 15 dirtiest items in your house
But that's not the only reason that should get us squirming: a new study suggests that our smartphones are also hosts for allergens, such as fungus and pet dander.
In a study using simulated smartphone models, the researchers found elevated levels of cat and dog allergens, as well as Beta-Glucans (BDG) and endotoxin.
Hana Ruran, lead author on the study, explained in a news 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 mould." She added that endotoxin is also found in the environment and is a potent inflammatory bacterial toxin.
These findings, reported by Ruran and her colleagues from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, are especially relevant for people who are susceptible to allergies or live with asthma. If this is you, the researchers advise you should clean your smartphone frequently to reduce your risk of allergies or asthma triggers.
READ MORE | The most germ-infested item in your kitchen, plus 5 golden food hygiene rules
Says Peter Thorne, professor in the University of Iowa Department of Public Health and co-author of the study:
One expert told Healthline that the results weren't far-fetched, as allergens can be found everywhere, including in hair, clothes and shoes, so it's unsurprising that they were also found to live on our smartphones.
"If you touch your phone and then you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, then the allergens can enter your nasal or respiratory tract or eye mucosa," said Dr Payel Gupta, a national volunteer medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association.
How to clean your phone
For the study, the team created phone models similar in size and surface to a real phone. The front surface of the phone model was wiped as part of the test.
The researchers used ElectroStatic Wipes (ESW) to clean the phones of 15 volunteers, which they then measured for allergens, BDG and endotoxin levels.
According to the study authors, the chemicals they used in the mixture solutions for cleaning the phones can be purchased through laboratory or chemical suppliers, but they are not commercially available in the same concentrations used in the study. The following chemicals were tested for reducing BDG and endotoxin:
- 70% isopropyl alcohol
- Clorox non-bleach (0.184% benzyl and ethyl benzyl ammonium chloride)
- 0.12% chlorhexidine
- 0.05% cetylpyridinium
- 3% benzyl benzoate
- 3% tannic acid wipes
A combination of chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium was proven to be the most effective for reducing BDG and endotoxin on smartphones, while a combination of benzyl benzoate and tannic acid significantly reduced cat and dog allergens.
But since these chemicals are not easily accessible to consumers, experts advise using alcohol wipes to disinfect your smartphone (and other digital devices). Here's how to clean it the right way, according to experts at Harvard University:
- Turn off your device.
- Remove dust and debris with a dry lens cleaning towel or lint-free cloth.
- Use a 70% isopropyl wipe by lightly wiping the surfaces of your device, including the screen. They are available at Clicks for R25 (per box of 30 wipes) or at Dis-Chem for R20 (per pack of 15 wipes).
- Allow the surfaces of your device to air dry for a few minutes before turning your device back on.
