business-utilities News
If you think your mobile is cack you might be right.
Bet when you’re on your mobile phone you never give any thought about it, where it’s been or about its cleanliness – well be prepared for a little shock when we say that according to a new and recent study which highlights that “one in every six mobiles in the UK could have traces of poo on it….!
The study was undertaken by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Queen Mary, University of London.
The findings of the study suggested that mobiles were typically contaminated with faecal matter for a number of reasons such as
People not washing their hands properly with soap after going to the toilet.
People having a good old tweet in order to pass the time whilst working on something which we all encounter from time to time ‘that really stubborn bowel movement’.
If you’re one who can relate to this it wouldn’t surprise you then to know that the study, which was released ahead of Global Hand Washing Day to be held on 15th October 2011, also showed that us British folk tend to lie about our hygiene habits.
The study found that a well respectable 95% of people said they washed their hands with soap wherever possible, BUT…..! And a large BUT …… a staggering 92% of mobiles and 82% of hands had bacteria on them. Horrifically results also showed that 16% of hands and 16% of mobiles were found to harbour E coli a bacterium known to be of a faecal origin.
In carrying out the study researchers travelled to 12 cities across the UK in order to take samples and asked questions. During their travels they found that 28% of Londoners had the dirtiest hands however it was us West Midland folk – Brummies in particular who had the most contaminated phones, with an embarrassing 41% of them carrying E coli,
Dr Val Curtis from LSHTM (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) said in a statement “This study provides more evidence that some people still don’t wash their hands properly, especially after going to the toilet”.
“I hope the thought of having E coli on their hands and phones encourages them to take more care in the bathroom – washing your hands with soap is such a simple thing to do and there is no doubt, it saves lives.”
Fact is that by not washing your hands faecal bacteria can survive on our hands and on surfaces for hours at a time, especially in warmer temperatures and away from sunlight – it’s also easily transferable.
While it’s true to say that the effects of E coli can result in nothing more than a mild stomach upset, it’s also known to be linked to fatal cases of food poisoning like the June 2010 outbreak which occurred in Germany.
If you think your mobile might be cack in more ways than one, then you may wish to consider either buying or upgrading to a new mobile phone and then looking after it by washing your hands when you should and keeping it away from the throne room.