Bacteria on Cell Phones

[Peter Brown 0]

I've heard on the news and from many sources that there is more harmful bacteria on your cell phone than a toilet seat. Is this all founded in science, or a reasonable potential problem with an easy fix [although I don't know how to clean electrical appliances without water, maybe a damp rag?]?

Is the theory that getting 'dirty' is 'good' for you somewhat right?

For instance, a kid who puts dirty things in their mouth, versus the kid who did not, when finally exposed to a nightmare pathogen, may be better off compared to the latter who was kept clean by his perfectionist parents?

Also, articles I've read indicates that the cell phone is dirty because of hands, the heat from the cell phone and the face -- I thought heat killed bacteria, especially when cooking -- and what's so bad about the face?

I work on checkouts and I wash my hands before I grab my cell phone and leave -- although it's a quick wash and I bet there's still probably money germs on my phone -- however to me this would appear to be the only 'threat' if there were one.

[Dufresne 0]

I've heard on the news and from many sources that there is more harmful bacteria on your cell phone than a toilet seat.

I don't know whether that's true but the problem is that you can't use a toilet seat to talk to someone .

Also, articles I've read indicates that the cell phone is dirty because of hands, the heat from the cell phone and the face -- I thought heat killed bacteria, especially when cooking -- and what's so bad about the face?

Generally speaking, there are different kinds of bacteria that require different environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and pH-level) for survival. Some kinds of bacteria thrive in high-temperature environments (for example over 80 degrees Celsius) while other bacteria "prefer" lower temperatures.

[non-contradictor 0]

I've heard on the news and from many sources that there is more harmful bacteria on your cell phone than a toilet seat. Is this all founded in science, or a reasonable potential problem with an easy fix [although I don't know how to clean electrical appliances without water, maybe a damp rag?]?

According to my microbiology teacher, this is because toilet seats are generally cleaned with heavy antibacterial soaps, whereas cell phones are generally, well, not. Though as to the harmful/safe issue, I have no idea. I would think that while toilet seats may have a lower concentration of bacteria overall, they would probably have more harmful ones than cell phones. Do you have a link to any of the news sources you mention?

The first day of microbiology, we went and streaked various locations in the school for bacteria. I found more on the water fountain than on the garbage can. Yeuch. My teacher said he used to have students streak their mattresses, but then he got complaints about students not being able to sleep so he discontinued that.

[Arnold 0]

I don't know whether that's true but the problem is that you can't use a toilet seat to talk to someone .

Oh not so. Some academics and politicians often make the most sensible "utterances" when using a toilet seat.

[Peter Brown 0]

Do you have a link to any of the news sources you mention?

It was a FOX News 'extra', if you watch FOX after or before the ads they play a video of a new household tip, or a new drug, or ways to keep pedophiles away, etc.

[Stephen Speicher 0]

I don't know whether that's true but the problem is that you can't use a toilet seat to talk to someone .

[dondigitalia 0]

According to my microbiology teacher, this is because toilet seats are generally cleaned with heavy antibacterial soaps, whereas cell phones are generally, well, not. Though as to the harmful/safe issue, I have no idea. I would think that while toilet seats may have a lower concentration of bacteria overall, they would probably have more harmful ones than cell phones. Do you have a link to any of the news sources you mention?

What I have always heard regarding germs on toilet seats is that they tend to be pretty sterile, but not because of what they are cleaned with. The environment on a toilet seat just isn't conducive to life. Most bacteria require warm, moist environments to thrive. Toilet seats are cold, and because they are exposed to the air, what little moisture they get dries up pretty quickly.

Penn & Teller did a show once about bacteria on toilet seats. They aren't scientists, and I wouldn't by any means classify what they did as a study, but I definitely think their "findings" are believable. They hired a lab to analyze germ samples from different parts of the body (including the butt--way down in between the cheeks), and the samples from the hands were the dirtiest by far, the mouth coming up second place.

It's no secret how dirty most people's hands are, so it would make sense that cell phones are dirtier than toilet seats.

P.S. I had a doctor tell me a few years ago that anybody who's really concerned about contracting a disease in a public restroom, they'd do better to wear surgical gloves while wiping than use one of those paper toilet seat covers. In addition to toilet seats just not being that dirty, the covers are made of cheap, highly porous paper, and don't do much to stop anything.

[JohnRgt 0]

I've heard on the news and from many sources that there is more harmful bacteria on your cell phone than a toilet seat.

Chances are that your toilet seat has less harmful bacteria than your kitchen sink.

Also, a recent Stossel broadcast quoted studies that claim that raising children in too sterile an environment may cause of asthma.

JohnRGT

[Dufresne 0]

I guess now I know what the second "T" in "AT&T" stands for .

[Arnold 0]

Oh not so. Some academics and politicians often make the most sensible "utterances" when using a toilet seat.

That should be: make "their" most sensible utterances.

[Paul's Here 0]

I've been calling for 2 hours!! Why don't you answer? Please pick up.

[oldsalt 0]

However many germs you may have on your personal cell phone, it is a great deal less than what one may find on public telephones. At least you know where yours hands have been (you do know where your hands have been don't you?).

No matter how over-protective a parent may be, unless they put their children in a bubble, kids are going to meet up with all sorts of germs via other children. There is no more germ infested place than a school--especially a day-care or elementary school, where children are, shall we say, more adventurous and less careful. It is in this incubator that most children train their immune systems to common bacteria.

I wipe my electronics down with Pledge Multi-Surface cleaner; the package informs me that while it is good for "Stainless Steel, Mirrors, Plastics, Granites, and sealed wood, it should not be used for personal hygiene or as a baby wipe.

[Stephen Speicher 0]

I've been calling for 2 hours!! Why don't you answer? Please pick up.

What? You didn't hear the flush?