Some time back a study by Which? Magazine had revealed that a few computer keyboards have more harmful bacteria than found on a toilet seat. Now, a recent study published in the same magazine says that the number of potentially dangerous germs present on an average cell phone is 18 times than found on the flush handle of toilet. In fact among the sample mobile phones used for the test, one carried bacteria in such high levels that it could have resulted in a severe stomach trouble to the owner.

The study involved large number of cell phones and revealed that out of the 63 million phones used in Britain, approximately 14.7 million cell phones are serious health hazards.

The tests were carried out by Jim Francis who is a hygiene expert and according to him the harmful bacteria on a cell phone were beyond measure and if possible the phone should have been subjected to sterilization.

The findings were shocking like the most germ-infested mobile was found to contain enterobacteria about 39 times more than the safe level. It is a group of bacteria found in the lower intestines of human beings, animals and bugs like salmonella. The handset was also found to have 170 times the faecal coleforms levels (linked to human waste) which are considered acceptable.

Some of the other bacteria, though at safe levels, found in the tested mobiles included bugs like e.coli and staphylococcus aureus that are associated with food poisoning.

According to the researchers, the germs in mobile phones are transferred to the user’s hands which act as breeding grounds and then these are passed back onto the handset. This way transfer of germs takes place back and forth increasing the chances of the user catching something serious. This proves how easily a person comes into bacterial contact. Usually, toilet flushes are seen as a dirty thing to touch but in fact they carry fewer germs than mobiles.

The study suggests that people should be careful as to who they are passing their mobiles to for small things like viewing photos or other similar trivial stuff. Maintaining good hygiene is the best way to avoid eventually catching something nasty through the minute device that has become indispensable in modern times.

Source:

Which? Magazine

Daily Mail

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by dr.rajesh moganti on 30. Jul, 2010 in Health News