New Delhi. A study conducted some time ago revealed that 6 out of 10 people take their smartphones to the toilet. However, this habit can have serious health consequences. This study was done by NordVPN. 61.6 percent of the participants in the study said that they take their phones to the bathroom to scroll through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. At the same time, 33.9 percent people admitted that they use their smartphones in the bathroom to stay updated with current affairs. 24.5 percent of the participants in the study admitted that they use their phones in the washroom to send messages or make calls.
On this, in a conversation with Yahoo Life UK, infection control specialist Dr. Hugh Hayden had said that smartphones can promote ten times more germs than toilet seats. Touchscreens are the ‘mosquitoes of the digital age’ because they can spread infectious diseases, he said. Dr Hayden said, there is a risk of cross contamination when we touch shared surfaces, then use the screen of our smartphone, then the phone itself becomes a source of infection.
Germs survive on screen for 28 days
According to Yahoo Like UK report, germs can survive on smartphone screens for up to 28 days. This can turn touchscreen phones into a potential breeding ground for germs and pathogens. The report quoted some previous research papers and said that Staphylococcus is one of the most commonly found pathogens on mobile phones. These pathogens can find their way into the body through contact with the mouth, eyes or nose, causing many health problems like respiratory and skin infections.
Using a smartphone in the washroom doubles the chances of getting infected by germs and pathogens from the smartphone. Therefore, it is advised to avoid taking mobile phones to the bathroom.