Germy Office Surfaces: Study Reveals Most Contaminated Items At Work

Before you unwrap that sandwich at your desk or in the office break room, you might what to read this.

The most high-illness risk surfaces in your office are located in exactly those two places, according to a new study.

Kimberly-Clark Professional and Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, conducted 5,000 swabs on surfaces in office buildings used by a total of 3,000 people. The types of offices ran the gamut, from healthcare companies, to law firms, to call centers.

The study researchers were aiming to obtain the levels of adenosine triphosphate, found in animal, mold, yeast, bacteria and vegetable cells. ATP levels give an idea of how many microorganisms are present on a surface. If a surface has an ATP level of 300 or above, that surface is considered a possible risk for illness. ATP levels of 100 or above mean that the surface could definitely be cleaner.

The researchers found that surfaces in office break rooms and one frequently used desk object were the germiest -- meaning, they had ATP levels of 300 or above. And other common desk items -- like phones and computer mice -- didn't get off scot-free: They were found to have ATP levels of 100 or above.

While the study didn't directly relate bacteria levels to illness, a higher ATP level "indicates that there’s more bacteria, so the odds are certainly greater that you might come across an organism that may make you sick," study researcher Gerba told HuffPost in an email.

As a comparison, the ATP levels of a toilet seat "is is less than 200, and there’s 400 more times bacteria on an office desktop than the toilet seat," Gerba told HuffPost. "The safest place from germs in the office is the toilet seat. That’s because no one cleans their desktops."

Take a look at how common office items fared in the latest study. Are you surprised by any of these? Will the findings impact your workplace cleanliness efforts?

Loading Slideshow

• Vending Machine Buttons

  Twenty-one percent of vending machine buttons had ATP counts of 300 or higher.

• Water Fountain Buttons

  Twenty-three percent of water fountain buttons had ATP counts of 300 or higher.

• Refrigerator Door Handles

  Twenty-six percent of refrigerator door handles had ATP counts of 300 or higher.

• Keyboards

  Twenty-seven percent of keyboards had APT counts of 300 or higher.

• Microwave Door Handles

  Forty-eight percent of microwave door handles had APT counts of 300 or higher.

• Sink Faucet Handles

  Seventy-five percent of sink faucet handles in break rooms had ATP counts of 300 or higher.

• Five Germ-Filled Places You'd Never Expect

  The Doctors uncover the five germiest places you'd never expect.

From our partners

• 39 Deliciously Unexpected Healthy Avocado Recipes - Greatist
• 8 Great Running Apps To Help You Train For Your Next Race - Shape Magazine
• 6 Reasons To Sleep At Least 7 Hours - Everyday Health

Comments

[PUBS2012]

07:38 PM on 05/28/2012

I assume most people would have the common sense not to lay our their meal in direct contact with their office desk but use a container or sandwich wrapper.

[henrypapillon]

10:52 PM on 05/28/2012

So you like the anorexia girls with the death breath?

[Barbara Loretta]

07:50 AM on 05/28/2012

I don't drink from water fountains.

[Scott Stevenson]

10:09 AM on 05/28/2012

No, you prefer koolaid straight from the pitcher.

[Barbara Loretta]

01:14 PM on 05/28/2012

Purified water.

[ldelp84227]

07:43 AM on 05/28/2012

Just got done wiping my keyboard with some alcohol before reading this article. You should do door knobs, light switches, microwave, refrig handles, even do products you use like the outside of lotions, Soak toothbrushes in peroxide. I never get colds since I started doing this once in a while. And always wash hands after being in apartment hallway if using railings, etc. You just have to do it because many don't wash their hands or long enough to get the germs off.

[interject]

10:03 PM on 05/27/2012

That's it! I'm not going to work anymore.

[redrdstr]

07:34 PM on 05/25/2012

Well, duuuuh!

[ghpianoman]

06:25 PM on 05/25/2012

Hmmm... the in a bit of a quandary... how to leave a post here without touching my keyboard :) Damn... too late.

[Denizio]

05:06 PM on 05/25/2012

I have built up an immunity to my keyboard.

[rdschuler]

04:39 PM on 05/25/2012

If you go out to eat tonight,visit the kitchen of the restaurant before ordering .Enjoy your coffee !

[windycitygirl444]

04:15 PM on 05/25/2012

I am a total germ phobe. I wash my hands a lot and clean my keyboard and mouse all the time. Huge on my list ... light switches, door knobs, car door handles, radio knobs, etc. I worked part time in a Doctor's office when I was in school and learned all about this from just watching the Doctors and Nurses. They clean everything and wash their hands constantly!! They even had liquid rubber gloves - never heard of that until I worked there.

The job I have now - I touch so many things all day long. I am around so many different people everyday. Some people can be really disgusting too.

I will say I never get sick since I started doing this .... and it's really not a big deal to clean things. I think it's crazy not to be worried about germs now days. I used to always catch colds and now I rarely do.

[ibanezx123]

04:14 PM on 05/25/2012

omg my keyboard is killing me and i didn't even know it!

[Autora]

03:56 PM on 05/25/2012

Anyone who doesn't know to wipe down their phones, door knobs, cash registers, keyboards and etc. with some regularity is just asking for it. This is not news! (It's also a good idea to use your own pen during winter.)

[windycitygirl444]

04:18 PM on 05/25/2012

Yes, the pen!!! I never take a pen from anyone. I always have my own.

[Autora]

06:02 PM on 05/25/2012

Very wise of you. I learned that simple trick from a customer years ago. It works. Say hello to Chicago for me!

[dengate6]

03:10 PM on 05/25/2012

Where I work we worry about getting crushed by heavy machinary, losing a eye from flying debris, falling objects, and don't forget rusty nails and rattlesnakes. Go work outside for a living once in awhile, that office job will seem alot more comfortable.

[lnazariot]

12:32 PM on 05/25/2012

"like phones and computer mice"...I thoug it was computer mouse.

[63blonde]

01:03 PM on 05/25/2012

Mice just means more than one.

[lnazariot]

01:14 PM on 05/25/2012

Thanks!

[all im sayin is]

12:20 PM on 05/25/2012

So we'll be safer taking our laptops to the toilet to do our work, and taking a dump on the desk, huh?

[leedie]

01:31 PM on 05/25/2012

LMAO !

[all im sayin is]

02:03 PM on 05/25/2012

I would have said thanks for the reply, and let you know I was glad to brighten your day, but after reading the story, I was sooooooooooooo afraid to touch the keyboard!!!

[ttaz4dqm]

12:11 PM on 05/25/2012

As an IT pro I am LOATHE to touch a users keyboard without a very good reason...ever turn one over and shake it? GAHH!!

[MyNinja]

02:56 PM on 05/25/2012

I had a teacher that has this awesome keyboard he brings with him everywhere that's made out of rubber and rolls up. There was another teacher I had who used to bring plastic shower caps and use them as keyboard covers on every machine he worked on.

[ttaz4dqm]

04:50 PM on 05/25/2012

Yeah, their neat :)