Peanut allergen is relatively easily cleaned from hands and tabletops with common household cleaning agents and does not appear to be widely distributed in schools, according to a study featured in the May 2004 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). The JACI is the peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).
Tamara T. Perry, MD, and colleagues from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine examined several factors: peanut allergen on surfaces in schools, the presence of residual peanut protein after using cleaning products, and airborne peanut protein when people were eating several forms of peanut.
Researchers found that there is a relatively low risk of exposure to peanut allergen when tables contaminated with small quantities of peanut butter are carefully cleaned with most common household cleaning products or water. Common household cleaning agents, except dishwashing liquid, easily removed peanut allergen from tabletops. Also, large amounts of peanut butter were removed from hands using liquid soap, bar soap or commercial wipes. However, researchers noted that plain water and antibacterial hand sanitizer did leave detectable peanut allergen on the hands. These cleaning methods are less than ideal and may result in contamination of other objects.
The study's findings provide a better understanding of the extent and likelihood of potential exposure to peanut allergen in various settings. Researchers conclude that there is relatively low risk of exposure to significant concentrations of the major peanut allergen when surfaces and hands are cleaned with common household cleaning agents and that school cafeteria tables and desks are not likely to be source of significant exposure for more peanut allergic patients.
