Crappy Cell Phones, Literally
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One sixth of cell phones in Great Britain have E.coli on them, according to a study released by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London. And that’s just one of many bugs scientists found crawling all over the phones.
About 95 percent of Britains claim to wash their hands with soap where possible, but in 390 samples taken from 12 cities, researchers found bacteria on 92% of phones and 82% of hands. Those findings suggest that many people don’t wash their hands properly even after visiting the restroom, researchers say.
Once transferred to mobile phones, bacteria can survive and grow, then be transferred back to hands, or to faces or surfaces where the phone rests. It’s gross, but it’s also dangerous.
E.coli is a common bacteria that, if ingested, causes bloody diarrhea and stomach cramping. Children who suffer from E. coli poisoning can develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
In the United States, 73,000 people become sick from E. coli poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those, 60 die.
"I hope the thought of having E. coli on their hands and phones encourages people to take more care in the bathroom – washing your hands with soap is such a simple thing to do but there is no doubt it saves lives,” Dr. Ron Cutler, who led the study, told The Telegraph.
