Mobile Phones 18 Times More Harmful Than Toilet Handle Flush

We Indians are almost always obsessed with keeping ourselves clean, but how many of us know that our mobile phones are infested with more bacteria than a toilet handle flush. Yes, indeed the average mobile phone or cell phone, as it is sometimes called, and has now become a necessity of sorts for some; has 18 times more harmful bacteria and germs than a toilet handle flush. These findings are a part of a study conducted by Which? magazine. It suggests that out of the 63 million mobiles which are in use in Britain, about 14.7 million are infected with dangerous bacteria and could be major health hazards. Though the study was conducted in Britain its very much relevant in Indian context, the second most populace country in the world; with a ever growing population of mobile users. With the economic boom set to continue and mobile companies striving to reach out to villages in every nook and corner of the country the dangers have increased considerably as more and more people are keeping multiple mobiles.

A phone in the test contained so many germs as to give its user a very serious case of stomach problem. Jim Francis, who is a hygiene expert, says that the phone should be sterilized as the bacteria on it were completely “off the scale”. Jim Francis who carried out the tests further said that "The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilizing." The bacteria found on the phone were plenty. The most unhygienic phone had maddening amount of enterobacteria, a group of bacteria found in the lower intestines of humans, and animals and include bugs such as salmonella about 39 times more than the safe level as well as more than ten times the acceptable level of TVC and seven were above the threshold. There were also faecal coliforms that are linked to human waste about 170 times the safe level. Germs that cause food poisoning like e.coli and staphylococcus aureus were also found but had not passed the acceptable limit.

Ceri Stanaway, who is a researcher associated with Which?, says that the process is continuous. He further said “Most phones didn’t have any immediately harmful bacteria that would make you sick straight away but they were grubbier than they could be. The germs end up on the hands that are like breeding grounds and then get passed on to one’s phone. The process is a back-and-forth one and the user is bound to fall ill. People find toilet flushes as dirty and filthy.” However, this study is sure to change a lot of things. Which? magazine during another study had discovered how computer keyboards have more bacteria than a lavatory seat. Researcher Ceri Stanaway says “The bugs can end up on your hands which is a breeding ground and be passed back to your phone. They can be transferred back and forth and eventually you could catch something nasty. What this shows is how easy it is to come into contact with bacteria. People see toilet flushes as being something dirty to touch but they have less bacteria than phones. “People need to be mindful of that by observing good hygiene themselves and among others who they pass the phone to when looking at photos, for example,” Stanaway added. (ANI)

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