|
Dr Sharon Jacob and Dr Shehla Admani, who are
both dermatologists, studied severe skin rashes afflicting the
unidentified 11-year-old boy for more than six months, before
discovering that his daily use of an Apple Inc iPad may have
brought on the condition.
The boy's iPad, among the first versions of the device launched
in 2010, tested positive for nickel, they said. The boy's
dermatitis improved significantly after he started using a
tablet case and began avoiding known sources of nickel in
general, the study's authors said.
The dermatologists said a cover only provides coverage of the
screen and leaves the back of the device exposed.
The report was the latest in a series of studies that have
linked nickel content in electronics such as computers and
smartphones to allergic reactions. Nickel is a common
allergy-inducing metal.
It's unclear if all iPads contain nickel, or just the first
generation of the device, such as the boy's. The researchers
said other common sources of nickel exposure for children
included ear piercings, clothing fasteners, dental work - which
people come into contact with constantly - laptops, cell phones
and toys.
Apple defended the safety of its products.
“We have found that allergies like the one reported in this case
are extremely rare," the company said in a statement. "Apple
products are made from the highest quality materials and meet
the same strict standards set for jewelry by both the U.S.
Consumer Safety Product Commission and their counterparts in
Europe.
"We rigorously test our products to make sure they are safe for
all our customers,” it said.
Jacob and Admani wrote that this was the first time an iPad had
been reported as a potential source of nickel "sensitization" in
children.
"With the increasing prevalence of nickel allergy in the
pediatric population, it is important for clinicians to continue
to consider metallic-appearing electronics and personal effects
as potential sources of nickel exposure," the dermatologists
said in the study.
(Reporting by San Francisco newsroom; Editing by Leslie Adler)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
|
