If you’re an avid BBM-er and have your BlackBerry to your ear constantly, you could be doing yourself more harm than you think.
In fact, health experts would advise you to trade in the BlackBerry for a high-end iPhone instead.
The two major players in the smartphone market have been compared and, when it comes to your health, the iPhone emerges as the clear winner.
Scientists tested several popular smartphones for two of the most common allergens, cobalt and nickel, and found neither metal was present in iPhones.
However, a third of BlackBerrys tested contained nickel, which can bring those with sensitive skin out in a rash.
Nickel allergy is one of the most common skin allergies, think cheap earrings, and the number of those affected is thought to be rising steadily.
Dr Tania Mucci, who presented the study at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, told the Daily Mail: “Both metals can cause an allergic reaction including dry, itchy patches along the cheekbones, jawline and ears.”
Nickel is a silvery-white metal found in objects including door handles, scissors, jewellery, and even occurs naturally in some foods, such as nuts and kidney beans.
“Patients with nickel and cobalt allergies should consider using iPhones to reduce the chance of having an allergic reaction,” said allergist Dr Luz Fonacier.
“BlackBerry users with known allergies should avoid prolonged conversations, text messaging and handling their phones if they begin noticing symptoms.”
The health experts advise anyone who develops a rash on their face which might be due to prolonged mobile phone use to seek advice from their doctor.
The actual condition is called mobile phone dermatitis. We’re not joking.
A spokesman said: “In mobile phone dermatitis, the rash would typically occur on the cheek or ear.”
A Blackberry spokesperson said: “Allergic reactions to nickel occur if it is found on the outside of a phone.
“We test our phones against EU test protocol EN 1811 and have found no nickel exposure on the exterior surface of newly purchased BlackBerry smartphones.”
Now we know we have to think twice before our next hour-long phonecall…
