Posted on 02/18/2006 12:24:52 AM PST by beaversmom
Horror stories of harmful bacteria living on surfaces in public places are the bread-and-butter of scare-mongering television, but is there any scientific evidence to support the claim that these invisible microbes can do us serious harm? Well, yes and no.
According to a recent study, conducted by the Korean Consumer Protection Board, which examined the surfaces of a number of commonly used objects, shopping cart handles were found to have the largest colonies of bacteria. Yep, even more than that old stalwart, the public bathroom door handle. The study ran tests for bacterial content on six of the most frequently handled public items, and, as you might have guessed, the results appear suitably worrying.
Shopping cart handles are at the top of the report's scary-six list, with 1,100 colony-forming units of bacteria per 10 cm2, followed by the mice used in an Internet cafe, which had an average of 690 colony-forming units. Hand straps on buses are the next bacterial stronghold with 380 units, followed by bathroom door handles at 340. On the face of it, these results indicate that supermarket chains should distribute rubber gloves, respirators and disinfectant to any shoppers plucky enough to enter their premises, and Internet cafes - in the Chinese style - should be shut down immediately. But does the study really indicate a clear and present danger to public health?
In Australia, The New South Wales Food Authority believes that: "the risk of shopping equipment transmitting food-borne disease is minimal. However, microbiological organisms are present everywhere in our environment, including on our hands and clothes, and may be present on shopping equipment which appears otherwise clean." Hmm, well, I'm glad they clarified things for us.
In the face of bacteria hysteria, it's worth remembering that bacteria are everywhere, and we've been happily co-existing with them for millennia. And don't forget that regular doses of bacteria are believed to strengthen and prime our immune systems. Which mean that these latest findings shouldn't cause alarm, it's unlikely that you'll become a victim of the evil bacterial juggernaut.
And in any case, the Korean team responsible for the new report says that there is one sure-fire way to annihilate those possibly harmful bacteria picked up at the supermarket. After you have finished your shopping you need to mix CH3-(CH2)n-COONa with water and apply vigorously to the affected area (that's soap and water to you and me).
True. I took swabs from the women's bathroom in grad school. The culture from the sink was worse than the toilet.
My dad grew up during the depression and he stays about 99.9 healthy from colds, flu and such. He grew up in very unsanitary conditions. I believe he could survive E-bola and anthrax.
I usually try to make a basket into the can from the door--for some reason I've always been pretty good at shooting hoops even though I never played basketball.
Penn & Teller did a whole show about the hysteria. Turns out that the test toilet seat was cleaner after a day's use than door handles and keyboards, and that the test subjects bare asses and genitals were cleaner than their hands and mouths.
Its hilarious to see people get all nuts over bacterias.
I've seen those too--here's a site:
http://www.shoppingcartcoverstore.com/
I think you can get them at places like Babie R Us as well
When I was a kid I ate dirt and was never sick so I could not play sick from school.
When I'm at home, I throw my coins into the dishwasher.
My dad said if they got a scratch, cut, etc. they used to rub something in it. I can't remember what--maybe dirt or soot. It was something strange. He's 75 years old and he has his ailments--diabetes, colitis, etc. but he's as tough as nails when it comes to germs.
A new co-worker at my husband's job proclaimed to the owner of the company that she trys not to go into men's cubicles because they touch their privates when using the bathroom and don't wash their hands afterward--as if women can't be gross too.
How neat!! Thanks for providing the link.
No question, the hospital is a far greater risk for illness than the grocery store, cart handles or not. The nastiest germs develop in the most demanding environments. I often work in nursing homes, and I use the antibacterial cleanser very liberally during the day, but elsewhere I never even think about it. It's been a long time since I've picked up any bugs.
"My dad grew up during the depression and he stays about 99.9 healthy from colds, flu and such. He grew up in very unsanitary conditions. I believe he could survive E-bola and anthrax."
I believe it
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