According to research for a UK consumer group mobile phones can harbor 18 times more living bacteria than a lavatory seat. For the study a hygiene expert swabbed and analysed 30 handsets and found seven had high levels of environmental bacteria. One of the types of bacteria includes fecal coliforms, high enough to give its user a serious stomach upset. Other bacteria including food poisoning bugs Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (commonly known as golden staph) were found on the phones but at safe levels.
According to the consumer group “Which?” findings suggested millions of UK mobiles would exceed the recommended acceptable levels of bacteria. These may not be overtly harmful says researcher Ceri Stanaway but indicate poor hygiene and can act as a breeding ground for more serious bacteria. Hygiene expert Jim Francis says, “The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilizing.” “Which?” advised that phones could be cleaned with an alcohol wipe. “Which?” has also previously found that some computer keyboards carry more harmful bacteria than a lavatory seat.
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