Smartphones have significantly higher levels of bacteria compared to toilet seats, new research has revealed. A survey by MattressNextDay, a UK-based supplier of affordable mattresses and beds, found the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa – a bacteria that can cause infection – on most devices. This bacterium may also be present in cockroach droppings, which makes it clear that there might be health consequences of not cleaning smartphones.
This is alarming especially since there is a correlation between smartphone addiction and the level of hygiene that people practise. People spend a lot of time on their devices and seem to forget the right procedures to follow when cleaning. An earlier study by the NIH revealed that 43% of medical students used phones while in washrooms, while only 23% of the users disinfected their phones regularly.
Another survey by NordVPN determined that smartphones harbour potentially dangerous germs up to ten times more than toilet bowls. A major issue comes with people carrying their phones into the bathroom, in which they can get exposed to bacteria likely to cause urinary bladder infections and other digestive system complications.
Smartphones have become an integral part of daily life, with nearly 50 million people in the UK sleeping with their phones nearby. 74% said that they cannot leave their devices outside the bedroom. This habit not only exposes individuals to bacteria but also affects their ability to sleep well. Notably, blue light emanating from the screens hinders the production of melatonin.
The hormone melatonin is released by your brain in response to darkness. It facilitates sleep and the synchronisation of your circadian rhythms, which are your body’s 24-hour internal clock.
51% of people confessed they have never cleaned their phones, and 10% clean their devices only once a year. The lack of routine cleaning may result in the accumulation of dangerous bacteria that can be passed on to the skin and the bedsheets.
Germ buildup on phones can potentially cause skin problems such as inflammation and acne since people hold phones against their faces. Bacteria transfer very easily to pillows and bedding and can cause respiratory infections in immunocompromised individuals.
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