Phones Riddled With Far More Bacteria Than Toilets (VIDEO)

Are you texting into a toilet seat?

MSNBC asked that question in a recent segment on the 5 "germiest" places in your life. The answer may shock you.

According to MSNBC, phones carry 500 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

And a recent article in the Sacramento Bee offered even more jaw-dropping stats on the germs, bacteria, and other gunk that can be found on our phones.

The Sacramento Bee reports,

British researchers provide some stomach-churning data: Mobile phones harbor 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom.

According to [Stanford University doctoral student Timothy] Julian's study, published online in July by the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the risks of transmitting pathogens from glass surfaces to a person's skin are relatively high.

"If you put virus on a surface, like an iPhone, about 30 percent of it will get on your fingertips," Julian said. In turn, "a fair amount of it may go from your fingers to your eyes, mouth or nose," the most likely routes of infection.

How can you stay clean and avoid getting sick? First, "look but don't touch" when you or a friend is sharing a text, photo, or other information on a phone. Second, Health magazine's Roshini Raj advises users to clean their phones once a day using antibacterial wipes with an alcohol content of at least 60 percent.

Got other tips? Share them in the comments section below.

WATCH:

Comments

[rikster]

08:36 PM on 10/18/2010

no, but I once ran a modem thru one.......!

[sssteverrr]

06:52 PM on 10/18/2010

This cleanliness thing is such bs. We have an immune system that has evolved over millions of years to protect us from most bacteria. You don't need antibbacterial soaps and you don't need to wash your hands 20 times a day.

The risk these bacteria offer is that you might catch a cold or the flu, SO WHAT, it's not going
to kill you, take a breath, relax.

It's all a big deal about nothing to get your attention and sell PRODUCTS to save you from BIG BAD BACTERIA.

[cache]

08:37 AM on 10/19/2010

I agree with the bacterial soap comment, but you're crazy if you don't wash your hands frequently with basic soap and water. That is the simplest way to prevent the spread of disease, and very effective.

[Rast262]

12:44 PM on 10/18/2010

This is just more FUD. They don't give you any useful information, just the fear of "bacteria" (that do what, exactly?)

What kind of bacteria are on your phone?

What kin dof bacteria are on the toilet seat?

Which will make you ill and how seriously?

Until they answer those simple quesitons this is just a big bunch of non-news and FUD.

[Dailykook]

11:12 AM on 10/18/2010

Americans should be forced to use a bidet.

[ScottV]

10:32 AM on 10/18/2010

They should have flushed before they took the picture.

[dubbleplusgood]

03:54 PM on 10/17/2010

nonsense. ill put a phone next to my ear before i put a toilet seat next to it. although sometimes my phone sounds like its in a toilet bowl.

im j/k of course but who uses other people's cellphones? and why is it so dirty? they're often in a case protected from dirt unless someone is a loser and doesnt buy a case i guess.

[Trinity718]

04:50 AM on 10/17/2010

ooohhhh nooooo!!!! germs are gonna kill us!!

[stape45]

02:36 AM on 10/17/2010

Always toss back a gin and tonic before talking on your phone. If you talk for more than five minutes, have another one to refresh the disinfectant properties. Etc, etc.

[Trilby]

02:08 AM on 10/17/2010

Really? This is a big issue? Because I touch a lot of my own things during the day and funny thing-- they don't hurt me!

[robsolo]

12:48 AM on 10/17/2010

Lick your phone daily. Then your body will ingest all the germs and develop an immunity.

You might get a little sick now and then...but in the long run, you'll be stronger! ;)

[Camis]

12:13 AM on 10/17/2010

Soon we will need full-body condoms

[Formeralaskangal]

10:21 PM on 10/16/2010

I think it's so gross when I see people let their babies put a cell phone, car keys, or a pacifier from the floor in their mouth. Yuck!

[Trilby]

02:09 AM on 10/17/2010

First children, never. Those are third children.

[sabelmouse]

11:22 AM on 10/17/2010

i would suck that pacifier first to get it clean.

[KRaza]

10:19 PM on 10/16/2010

Um this is horribly stupid. A toilet seat isn't that dirty. Your own mouth and hands are probably dirtier. And that explains why your phone is dirty.

[db astra]

11:33 PM on 10/16/2010

Not to mention the oils from the side of your face. They're there to protect your skin, but as a result they also harbor tons of germs. I have a tiny bit of acne on the side of my face that is probably related to cell phone use.

[aero56]

07:20 AM on 10/17/2010

The flush handle, not the seat.

[sabelmouse]

11:23 AM on 10/17/2010

that is something i'll not touch in a public toilet. or the seat. people aren't always that carefull.

[Demarcus Jackson]

08:44 PM on 10/16/2010

I believe this report! The other day I asked a friend of a friend if I could borrow his cell phone to make a quick call to my brother. He said, "Sure." I took a quick look at the phone and it was absolutely disgusting! I mean I made up some excuse to get out of calling my brother after I saw that nasty phone.

[tobiasaurusrex]

08:06 PM on 10/16/2010

If it weren't for bacteria, you'd be dead. People don't eat food, we put food into our body to feed our bacterial cultures, then we eat those. Bacteria is on everything, all sorts. Now, pathogenic bacteria, that's something else, and more rare. So, don't put your phone down into someone's festering wound or supporating buboe. Otherwise, learn the truth about your reality, and ignore idiodic boogeyman stories like this.