- Nickel and chromium metals are sparking painful and unsightly rashes
- As mobile phone use grew, so did reports of skin problems
- Teenage girl developed a rash on her chest after keeping phone in her bra
19:19 EST, 21 May 2014
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02:43 EST, 22 May 2014
Growing numbers of people are developing skin allergies triggered by mobile phones, researchers have warned.
Nickel and chromium metals in the buttons and cases are sparking painful and unsightly rashes, blisters and dry flaky patches on cheeks, chins and ears.
Many of the cases of contact dermatitis, which is usually associated with cheap jewellery, belt buckles and zips, have occurred in children.
Nickel and chromium metals in the buttons and cases are sparking painful and unsightly rashes, blisters and dry flaky patches on cheeks, chins and ears
In a review of the evidence, American and Danish researchers questioned whether manufacturers are doing enough comply with EU regulations on nickel use.
Their trawl of medical literature revealed 37 cases of mobile phone allergies.
As mobile phone use grew, so did reports of skin problems, with a 1,250 per cent rise between 2000 and 2010, the journal Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonology reports.
Almost half of the cases were in under-18s.
These included a teenage girl who developed a rash on her chest after keeping her mobile phone tucked in her bra.
Previous studies have found that phones made by many popular manufacturers, including BlackBerry, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and LG release nickel one of the two metal allergens.
Apple and Nokia handsets were given a clean bill of health.
Review author Clare Richardson, of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, said: ‘As worldwide rates of mobile phone use rise, we show that cases of mobile phone-associated acute contact dermatitis are also increasing.
‘Despite efforts to control allergen release in phones, many phones on the market release levels of metals such as nickel that are sufficient to induce acute contact dermatitis.
‘Nickel release by mobile phones appears to be common and has been reported in both cheap and expensive mobile phones, including phones covered under the EU Nickel Directive.’
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Petunia,
Timbuktu,
12 minutes ago
How about not having them made in China, for starters?
Billy The Kid,
The Alamo,
41 minutes ago
Where are all the Samsungers?
Cat got your tongue?
Come over to the clean side, get yourself a nice iphone.
Ken Mist,
Paris,
51 minutes ago
In that case why not make them out of Gold? Ban them- why not? Really nobody’s dying they just have itchy ears!
hardy1989,
Wigan, United Kingdom,
51 minutes ago
Why would you keep a mobile in your bra? I read up to that point and realised it is another pointless article
ekjames,
Over the rainbow, United Kingdom,
1 hour ago
Could also be to germs, can you imagine the number of nasty things growing on a teens phone. Phone in bra, back pocket and even in the waste line or underwear, a constant use, one hand for eating while the other texting, going to the loo and updating FB or a twit…
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