Going to the toilet with a
smart-phone or tablet has become a common habit nowadays, but according
to scientists, it is very dangerous.
This exposes you to the risk
of infection by bacteria such as E. Coli or salmonella, which can do a
lot of damage to your system. How, you ask? Dr. Lisa Ackerley has the
answer. “If you wipe your bum then pick up your phone, you may as well
not bother washing your hands because all the bacteria you put on your
phone will end up back on your hands,” she says.
So, what should we do? Well, according to Dr. Ron Cutler, not taking your phone in the bathroom is the right step.
“Basically,
you just shouldn’t (take your phone into the toilet) if you are at all
concerned about the transfer of viruses and fecal contamination.” He
also says that the levels of contamination depend on the location of the
toilet – the office might not be a problem, but a public toilet
significantly increases the risk of infection. Viruses can be
transferred by anything, not just by hands or air.
A single spray
from the toilet can travel six feet from the flush and end on your
toothbrush, which is why it should be in a closed cupboard.
Germs can even survive on your phone for days! “Phones heat up a little bit giving bacteria a nice warm environment.
If
people handle sweets and leave a sticky coating on the phone, that’s an
even better place for bacteria,” Dr. Cutler says. This is why it’s very
important to wash your hands well with soap and water any time you’re
using the bathroom.
