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iPad Implicated in Pediatric Rashes Diagnosed as Nickel Allergies [Updated]

It might be a reaction to aluminum or titanium.

I don't think Apple (or anyone else) has put nickel in anything for ages. Not anything that people might touch.
Also, nickel allergy is very common and if ipads - or any smartphone or tablet for that matter - contains nickel as part of the shell, we would have seen a lot of reports about allergic reactions.

It could be another metal allergy; titanium or aluminium, maybe?
Rare, but it happens.
 
Nerdling said:
I don't think Apple (or anyone else) has put nickel in anything for ages. Not anything that people might touch.
Also, nickel allergy is very common and if ipads - or any smartphone or tablet for that matter - contains nickel as part of the shell, we would have seen a lot of reports about allergic reactions.

It could be another metal allergy; titanium or aluminium, maybe?
Rare, but it happens.
Click to expand...

this is just what i was thinking, well known that Apple uses Aluminum NOT Nickel... finally found this today:

http://metrobloggen.se/applemac/nickel-allergy-be-wary-of-apple-products-2/

would explain why only one kid has reaction - some tool used to assemble the iPad (like a screwdriver) had nickel and left trace amounts on his iPad (this could happen with anything assembled anywhere). Really may not even been related to Apple at all, what if traces of nickel got on the iPad after purchase? Could even be some case he bought for it - maybe even one he only used briefly before deciding he didnt like it (maybe becausedirect contact caused instant discomfort) - and now there are nickel traces on iPad.
 
goonie4life9 said:
I think you hit the nail on the head. It is physiologically impossible to have a reaction to peanuts from smell and, in most cases touch, because the protein is not sufficiently present, let alone absorbed (there are even some interesting studies in which individuals with diagnosed peanut allergies ate peanut butter with little to no reaction). Any "reaction" from sight, smell, or touch is due to either learned "taste/smell/touch" aversion or CS/US pairing, both of which can be counter-conditioned relatively easily. If the over-the-top cries and demands from individuals/parents of individuals with peanut allergies are any indication, we're in for an interesting ride with nickel allergies.
Click to expand...

For something that's "physiologically impossible", its funny that it actually occurs in people. And setting aside the issue of whether or not airborne allergens are an issue, incidental contact and accidental exposure are. So even if the smell from being around peanuts/peanut butter MIGHT not harm you, being somewhere that you can smell it means you are at much higher risk of incidental contact that can in fact cause a reaction. But hey, i'm sure the next time someone is dealing with a severe anaphylactic reaction to being exposed to peanuts, they'll be comforted by the fact that at least it wasn't from the peanut dust in the air...
 
mikethebigo said:
Actually I probably have a much better understanding than either of you. But I will say if you'd like a more precise answer it is this:

Your genetic predisposition towards sensitivity to certain objects is already set at birth. We know that environment does play a role. But all the scientists can confirm so far is increased exposure leads to increased symptoms.

I have not seen ANY conclusive evidence to suggest that exposure to an allergen "causes" new sensitivity. Some allergy scientists say that new sensitivities can be "unmasked" by exposure but are careful to not say "caused by." We know that allergies can come and go but we actually have no idea why.

In relationship to this story I would argue it is wrong to say that you became allergic to nickel because of the iPad. But we do know that reported nickel allergies are on the rise simply because exposure is increasing.
Click to expand...
Your body creates the reaction. The reaction your body gives can change over time. The rest is semantics. Exposure is probably the wrong area for "scientists" to be looking. Check body function instead. (it helps with cancer)
 
Serelus said:
It's all fine and dandy that there's a good cause to this article, but that's definitely not the reason it was published. To put it in south park terms;
RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!!
Click to expand...

So what was the reason it was published?
 
So now people have Nickel allergies? Good grief. It seems like every time I turn around people are becoming allergic to such common things. When I was a kid, I tested positive for allergic to mold and dust. Now it seems like parents have to cope with a lot more allergies.

----------
JAT said:
Your body creates the reaction. The reaction your body gives can change over time. The rest is semantics. Exposure is probably the wrong area for "scientists" to be looking. Check body function instead. (it helps with cancer)
Click to expand...

Absolutely. When I was in my 20s, I considered moving to Phoenix from Boston to escape the trees and bushes that were aggravating my allergies. I spoke to my doctor and he said "You will be fine for a couple of years then you will become allergic to whatever trees and bushes are in Arizona. You are just susceptible to allergies, period.'
 
Put a CASE ON IT! I would never give an ipad to a kid without a case on it to begin with.

Let's not see some stupid recall or better yet, a class action lawsuit over this. Same percentage of people who are allergic to fitbit I guess are now susceptible to the iPad allergy.
 
Did you read what I wrote or are you just interested in attacking me and bashing Apple? Physiology is what it is no amount of "belief" will change it (not to mention the wealth of peer-reviewed empirical research). The only thing that can cause any kind of anaphylactic reaction is passage of the protein through a mucous membrane (eyes, mouth, etc.). However, as I clearly said, one could have similar responses that are the result of learned taste/smell/etc. aversion or similar conditioned responses that are the result of pairing of an NS (the sight or smell of peanuts) with the ingestion of peanuts (which elicits a US, the anaphylactic reaction). However, these require repeated pairings (which means the conditioned aversion or conditioned reflex can be nearly eliminated - by being exposed to the sight, smell, etc. without a physical reaction from ingestion or presenting the NS without the CS) which makes it highly unlikely that they developed in the first place (i.e., I doubt people who are actually allergic repeatedly eat a substance that cause an anaphylactic reaction). And if there is no association between sight, smell, touch (the skin etc. and ingestion, then no, simply being in the presence of peanuts is in no way correlated with increased risk of contact that would cause a reaction (the skin is not a mucous membrane and I highly doubt people who are actually allergic will simply allow someone else to forcefully put peanuts in their mouth, nose, ears, etc.).

So, yes, much of the over-top cries and demands are nonsense because peanut dust in the air in no way affects people with peanut allergies.

Krizoitz said:
For something that's "physiologically impossible", its funny that it actually occurs in people. And setting aside the issue of whether or not airborne allergens are an issue, incidental contact and accidental exposure are. So even if the smell from being around peanuts/peanut butter MIGHT not harm you, being somewhere that you can smell it means you are at much higher risk of incidental contact that can in fact cause a reaction. But hey, i'm sure the next time someone is dealing with a severe anaphylactic reaction to being exposed to peanuts, they'll be comforted by the fact that at least it wasn't from the peanut dust in the air...
Click to expand...
 
viewfly said:
Show some common sense (cents) The USA has a bigger lawsuit and deeper pockets than Apple if this gets out of hand.
Click to expand...

A few trillion dollars of tax payers and and other money borrowed from other countries
Vs
A few hundred billion of it's own money 100% debt free.

Sure the US government has more but the US can't really take ownership of it all.
 
How ridiculous that Apple had to release a statement on this. When is the media going to contact other companies that make products with traces of nickel in them?
 
Aluminum Alloy

I thought Apple was using common 6061 Al alloy. Nickel is not part of that mix. Nickel is't used to alloy aluminum as far as I know. Zinc, Copper, Silicon, Titanium, Manganese, iron.......Not nickel.

I bet the iPad picked up nickel on its surface via contact with stainless steel. Stainless used in food contact (except cooking knives) has around 18% nickel. An iPad nickel contact buzz.
 
DesertEagle said:
Nickel allergy is common. Makes me wonder why Apple use nickel in the alloy of a tablet casing when it's supposed to be held in the hand.
Click to expand...

Sadly companies put nickel in everything. I'm really hoping there's no nickel in the iWatch. If so, I can never wear one, because I've got a nickel allergy. It doesn't take much contact to give me a rash. I try to avoid even short term exposure with metal unless I know it's something like titanium or platinum. I can't wear most watches because the back usually is a nickel alloy, nickel is also commonly found in gold jewelry. Titanium unfortunately gets scuffed rather easily, and platinum is very expensive. I just hope Apple chooses good materials for the iWatch and their other products so they don't exclude any potential customers.
 
I have an allergy to grass sooooo.... I don't lay in the grass and complain about my allergy to grass. get a freaking case and don't frinking play on your iPad for 22 hours a day! :apple:
 
saturnotaku said:
I developed a penicillin allergy when I was a child. My son was born with allergies to milk, eggs and soy protien. He got over the egg one, and we're hopeful milk will be the next to fall.
Click to expand...

O/T, but if it's any consolation, I was allergic to all dairy products, white fish, nuts, eggs & penicillin from birth.

I lost the dairy, egg & penicillin allergies, but still have the fish & nut ones.
 
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