कांतामिनातेद मोबाइल फोंस

WHAT A NASTY THOUGHT, IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK TO THINK ABOUT IT

ONE IN SIX MOBILE/CELL PHONES ARE CONTAMINATED WITH FAECAL MATTER IN THE UK

One in six mobile phones in Britain is contaminated with faecal matter, according to new research. Experts say the most likely reason for the potentially harmful bacteria festering on so many gadgets is people failing to wash their hands properly with soap after going to the toilet.

The findings of the UK-wide study by scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London also reveal a tendency among Britons to lie about their hygiene habits. Although 95 per cent of people said they washed their hands with soap where possible, 92 per cent of phones and 82 per cent of hands had bacteria on them.

Some 16 per cent of hands and 16 per cent of phones were found to harbour E. coli – bacteria of a faecal origin. Harmful E coli (Escherichia coli) is often associated with stomach upsets and has been implicated in serious cases of food poisoning such as the fatal O157 outbreak in Germany in June 2011.

The researchers carried out the study to mark Global Hand-washing Day. Researchers travelled to 12 cities and took 390 samples from mobile phones and hands which were analysed in the lab to find out the type and number of germs lurking there.

Participants were also asked a series of questions about their hand-washing habits. They found the largest proportion of contaminated phones was in Birmingham, Midlands UK (41%) while Londoners had the highest proportion of E. coli present on their hands (28%).

However, actual levels of bacteria increased the further north of the UK scientists went; the dirtiest city being Glasgow, where average bacterial levels on phones and hands were found to be nine times higher than in Brighton, reinforcing a North/South divide. The scientists also found those who had bacteria on their hands were three times as likely to have bacteria on their phone. Faecal bacteria can survive on hands and surfaces for hours at a time, especially in warmer temperatures away from sunlight, the scientists said, and are easily transferred by touch to door handles, food and even mobile phones. From there, the germs can be picked up by other people
Dr Ron Cutler, of Queen Mary, University of London, said: "Our analysis revealed some interesting results from around the UK. While some cities did much better than others, the fact that E. coli was present on phones and hands in every location shows this is a nationwide problem. People may claim they wash their hands regularly but the science shows otherwise."

These results must also be emulated around the Globe and in even hotter Countries it must be even worse than any of the above figures.

It got me thinking about Zapping, so maybe it would be a good idea to put the mobile/cell phone on a food Zappicator and zap it for a few minutes a day.

Bless you David