EXPERTS have warned of the serious health dangers of taking your phone into
the toilet and reveal how truly dirty your devices are.
Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology, and Kelly Reynolds, associate
professor of environmental health reveal the real risks of using your phone
in the loo.
Professor Gerba explains that “Bathrooms are covered in germs, pathogens, and
enteric bacteria (from the intestinal tract), mostly from faecal matter.”
And previous studies have revealed that the most contaminated surfaces in a
toilet are door handles, the taps and the floor.
Shockingly, research found that as many as one-fourth of purses examined had
faecal matter on from laying them on bathroom floors.
Even after washing your hands you can still be recontaminated because “When
you flush the toilet, water with faeces and urine sprays about six feet in
every direction,” says Professor Reynolds.
Also, the amount of liquid and solid particles released into the air increase
with every flush, so public toilets are likely to be coated, including the
loo roll holder, which is a popular spot to put phones.
Prof Reynolds reveals that these particles can be easily picked up; when you
put your belongings down they become contaminated.
Further experts have linked recent outbreaks of norovirus, E. coli,
salmonella, shigella, hepatitis A, MRSA, Streptococcus, and the common
stomach flu to public loos.
Pro Reynolds adds that as urine isn’t sterile, it can transmit pink eye and
respiratory infections through the touching of your eyes, mouth and nose.
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The major issue with taking your phone into the loo is that it collects germs
rarely gets washed after, which results in the transfer of germs to our
bodies.
Studies conducted by University of Arizona found that nine out of 10 phones
had a potential disease-causing microbe and 16 per cent tested positive for
faecal matter.
Prof Gerba said: “The average person uses their cell phone for two hours a
day, so it’s very easy to recontaminate your hands and transmit the germs to
yourself or someone else.
“If the bathroom is the root of the problem, the best solution is to keep your
phone in your bag and away from the toilet.”