Cellular phone dermatitis with chromate allergy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A patient with allergic contact dermatitis caused by hexavalent chromium plating on a cellular phone has already been reported.

OBJECTIVES:

This study described the clinical characteristics and results of patch tests in 8 patients with contact dermatitis possibly caused by handling a cellular phone.

PATIENTS:

The 8 patients were 4 males and 4 females aged from 14 to 54 years. They each noticed skin eruptions after 9-25 days of using a cellular phone. All patients had erythema, and 7 had papules on the hemilateral auricle or in the preauricular region. Three of 8 patients had a history of metal allergy. Chromate, aluminium and acrylnitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer were used as plating on the cellular phones used by these patients.

METHODS:

Closed patch tests and photopatch tests were performed using metal standard antigens.

RESULTS:

The patch test was positive for 0.5, 0.1 and 0.05% potassium dichromate in all 8 patients. The photopatch test showed the same results. One patient was positive for 2% cobalt chloride and one for 5% nickel sulfate.

CONCLUSION:

It is important to consider the possibility of contact dermatitis due to a cellular phone, possibly caused by chromate, when the patients have erythema and papules on the hemilateral auricle or in the preauricular region.

• Authors: Mariko Seishima, Zuiei Oyama, Makiko Oda
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 207 Issue 1 Pg. 48-50 ( 2003) ISSN: 1018-8665 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 12835548 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel

Chemical References

• Chromates

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Cell Phone
• Chromates (adverse effects)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis, etiology)
• Ear, External
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Patch Tests
• Risk Assessment
• Sampling Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity