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| The truth about mobile phones that you may not know and why you should not use them in the toilet? |
More than 90 percent of people in the world own or use mobile phones and many of us cannot imagine life without them.
Although the health and mental effects of mobile phone use are reviewed from time to time, the risk of spreading germs and infections from your phone is not much talked about.
But the fact is that this is a serious problem.
In a 2019 study, it was revealed that most people in the UK, like the rest of the world, use their phone in the toilet or bathroom, keeping it close to the flush.
Research shows that our mobile phones can be dirtier than a toilet sink. Without knowing how many germs are on our phones, we give the same phone to children to play with while we use our phones while eating.
We touch our phones with our hands and rub them with our faces hundreds of times every day. Most of us wash our hands regularly, for example, after going to the toilet, before or after cooking, after cleaning the house, or after gardening, but very few people wash their hands regularly. Think about washing your hands after touching the phone.
But seeing as how phones are a breeding ground for germs, maybe it's time to think more about cleaning your mobile phone.
Germs, bacteria, viruses
Bacteria and viruses are always present on human hands and most of the infections we get are caused by these viruses and bacteria entering the human body through hands.
It's the same with the phones we touch. Several investigations into the biological colonization of mobile phones have shown that they can be infected with many different types of bacteria that can cause disease in humans.
Among them are the bacteria called E. coli, which enter the human body and cause diarrhea. These are bacteria that can infect human skin, cause tuberculosis and diphtheria, and cause urinary tract infections.
Apart from this, many such bacteria are also found on the phone which can have negative effects on human health. The research also found that many pathogens on phones are often resistant to common drugs, meaning they cannot be controlled with conventional drugs and require antibiotics. This is worrisome because these bacteria can cause skin problems, stomach, and respiratory infections, which can be life-threatening.
Research has also shown that even if you clean your phone with special antibacterial cloths or antibacterial wipes or alcohol, these germs can resurface, which simply means that the phone's surface is dirty. Cleaning should be a regular process.
Mobile phones contain plastic, which can not only become a breeding ground for various viruses but also transmit them. Such as the 'common cold' virus which can survive on hard plastic surfaces for up to a week. Other viruses such as covid-19, rotavirus (a highly contagious stomach disease that affects infants and young children), influenza, and norovirus, can cause severe respiratory and stomach infections.
This is why the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has clarified new guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting mobile phones as well as door handles and ATM machines after the outbreak of the coronavirus. Medical experts have expressed concern about the transmission of the virus through mobile phones.
Clean your mobile phone
So it's clear that you need to start cleaning your phone regularly.
The US Federal Communications Commission recommends cleaning cell phones and other electronic devices daily. Alcohol wipes or wipes that have been disinfected can be used for this task. You must use wipes with at least 70% alcohol to kill invisible bacteria and germs on mobile phone surfaces, especially the touch screen. And the best thing is that this cleaning needs to be done every day.
Never spray disinfectants directly on your phone and never use bleach. Wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the mobile phone. Thinking about how you handle your mobile phone can help prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for germs. Keep your phone in your pocket or purse when you're not at home. Do not use the phone excessively, but only when necessary. Touch your phone with clean hands and preferably wash or disinfect your hands before touching the phone.
There are other things you can do to protect your phone from becoming a virus hotspot. Do not share your phone with others if you have an infection. If children are allowed and in the habit of playing with their phones, always clean and wash their hands after use. And make it a habit to put your phone away when not in use.
A habit of cleaning the phone as well as its charger should also be adopted.