Cell Phones Causing Skin Infections
Professor Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona is very interested in what's growing on your cell phone, and we're not talking about your bill. He's been testing cell phones and finding that, in general, they're riddled with germs and bacteria that can cause skin infections. In an informal on-the-street test he ran 11 phones through his "germ meter" test, which counted the number of nasties on the phones. Five of the phones failed that test, meaning they had thousands of types of bacteria. Gerba says that isn't necessarily a problem so long as they all come from your own skin. Once you start sharing a cell phone is when things can get ugly.
This isn't the first we've heard of this, so you'd better take some precautions. Take a disinfectant wipe and rub any surface that might come in contact with your skin, making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. But, whatever you do, don't spray it with cleaner: those microscopic electronics inside don't generally like being misted with conductive liquids.
Of course, you could always use an ear piece or BlueTooth headset and keep the cell phone away from your cheeks entirely.
From CNN
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 4)
Daryn @ Jul 18th 2007 4:02PM
Makes sense maybe thats how I got my ear infection!!
JonJon @ Jul 18th 2007 4:18PM
"Live Dirty...Live Long"
JonJon @ Jul 18th 2007 4:20PM
"Live Dirty...Live Long"
Linda @ Jul 18th 2007 4:22PM
MRSA, for the lady who asked, is a resistant strain of staph. I forget exactly what the "M" stands for, but the "RSA" is "resistant Staphlococcus aureus. "M" probably stands for the usual medication used to fight it.
Marty @ Jul 18th 2007 4:27PM
So, what's new? This has been a problem with shared phones since Dom Ameche invented them.
Tim @ Jul 18th 2007 4:44PM
I've seen alot of people that don't wash there hands after using the bathroom even in a hospital thats full of germs ect., I think everyone has missed the bus on this one. The US is full of people from other countries that hygene is on a different scale, the main problem is that the farm workers" illegals" just P or POOP in the fields thats how the e-coli problem got in the food chain and will only get worse if the chicken ass President on down don't fix the problem about all the "ILLEGALS" in this country. They work here but send their money back across the border hurting our ECONOMY.
WAKE THE HELL UP AMERICA
Eric @ Jul 18th 2007 5:00PM
Urban-Amish!
chick @ Jul 18th 2007 5:13PM
Kinda makes you wonder, perhaps the "rashes" are not from cellphone filth, as much as from the sweat on the area of contact, since many people are on their phones far too much these days!
James Beal @ Jul 18th 2007 5:25PM
Interesting voter results of 6% rash, considering the research in Sweden, Canada and Germany that a general survey estimated that 3% of the population of highly industrialized countries (cell phones, computers, power lines) are electrically hypersensitive (primarily women)....and rashes common, especially with excessive use of computers (also often tied into sleep problems, chronic fatigue, and hypothyroid symptoms. Workman's compensation in Sweden for this problem, due to long term exposure to strong electromagnetic and microwave fields, along with chronic fatigue, sleep problems, and lots of other symptoms which clear up when away from electronic/microwave devices.
Stephie @ Jul 18th 2007 5:37PM
Wow that's really disgusting. But you think that they could tell us how to disinfect the phone properly? Or how often?
Danielle @ Jul 18th 2007 5:40PM
Cell phones are way too exposed everywhere. The fact that guys talk in the bathroom on their cell phone while going to the bathroom, is disgusting, let alone that they don't wash their hands and take the cell phone to their face, and hands, etc...start using those flourescent lights on people who walk out of a restroom, to show the germs, Cell phones should have manners sold with them, and I think most people put their cell phone above a real live person in front of them, and it's totally rude. I wait on customers all the time, who dont' even acknowledge me cuz their busy talking on their cell phone. People should realize they can wait for a stupid phone call. Very seldom is it so important you can't hang up, talk like a normal person everywhere to the people in front of you, bank, grocery story, restarants, etc... People need a revival on manners, it's ridiculous.
Lynn @ Jul 18th 2007 5:43PM
USING the ear phone has caused me to get an awful rash INSIDE of my ear! I wiped the earpiece with alcohol but, I think because I leave it in the car, the rash reoccurs. It is extremely painful and I have no other choice but to use it when I'm driving!
dozer @ Jul 18th 2007 6:03PM
I seem to have misplaced my phone.
FAT JAY, would you mind taking a look?
Also, my eight foot ladder has gone missing.
FAT JAY?
Mad Bunny @ Jul 18th 2007 6:14PM
If you rub anything against your cheek long enough, it will probably cause an irritation. Maybe people are just using their cell phones too much...
Helen @ Jul 18th 2007 6:31PM
MRSA is "Methecillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus". Atruly tough one to get...and it spreads like wildfire if ignored. Prevalentin close quarters like hospital rooms, nursing homes, boarding schools, etc.
Anne @ Jul 18th 2007 6:47PM
Yeah, if I use my phone too much without the headset, I get a rash on my ear and cheek. It's not so much fun, especially in hot weather.
Tammy Ashley @ Jul 18th 2007 7:14PM
Although I don't own a cell phone and don't intend to if I can help it and think that every state should have a law banning the use of them while driving I can see how they could be germ carriers especially if you have touched money, door handles, escalators, menus in restaurants, or the condiment bottles and salt and pepper shakers and then touch your phone and use it. Yuck. Some people do not wash their hands after using a restroom anywhere and thats where the whole germ thing starts. Pesky little things that they are. I never had a problem with germs unti I started watching shows like 20/20 and then my eyes were opened and it changed my take on this kind of stuff forever.
Dave @ Jul 18th 2007 11:18PM
i am Fat Jays ass. i am like a black hole in space, only larger and more powerful. my gravitational pull is so strong, that even light cannot escape me.
bill mattingly @ Jul 20th 2007 7:47AM
LOOK FOR A PREVENITIVE MEDICINE TO COME OUT ON THE MARKET FOR THIS SO CALLED RASH. THE MEDICAL PROFFESSION WILL COME UP WITH ANYTHING TO MAKE MORE MONEY.
JIM @ Jul 20th 2007 10:53AM
The people that make this shit up must not have a life....what a weird thing to say....I have been using cell phone for about 10 years and not once have I got a damn rash.....ONLY IN AMERICA !!!!!