It's not just pollen that's turning you into a sniffling, itchy, snot factory this spring. At least one doctor says our beloved gadgets may also play a role in our seasonal miseries.
Here's the diagnosis from Todd Resengart, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Stony Brook University:
Dr. Todd says that cell phones and iPods in particular can affect users who are sensitive to certain metals and minerals used in manufacturing. Nickel, which is prevalent in phone batteries, is one of the leading causes of skin allergies and can lead to "contact dermatitis," he says. Furthermore, prolonged use of cell phones and iPods can also cause unsightly skin bumps or rashes to sensitive gadget addicts.
As someone who's allergic to everything from grass to cats, I won't deny there exists a miserable group of hyper-sensitive people who seem to break out in hives the minute they walk out the door. But at this point, I'm wondering if we really need more allergy FUD. Is some well-meaning non-profit, founded by a mother whose child is allergic to his iPod, going to start pushing for warning labels on gadgets? This phone may contain trace amounts of nickel, cobalt and chromate. On the bright side, I guess no one's claiming your iPhone will make you go into a anaphylactic shock -- yet.
Photo: Flickr/mikelao26
