We found the 5 most bacterially contaminated places in the office

Every day you probably do everything always the same. When he gets to work, he leaves his things on the table, grabs his mug for coffee or tea. If, meanwhile, the phone rings, landline or mobile, your hands go straight to it - this is a haven of germs and bacteria, and the cycle of contamination continues again!

We don't know if you prefer to know it or not, but researchers at the University of San Diego and the University of Arizona have searched several US offices and mapped out the top five most contaminated places in a workplace. And of course, they also made some pretty disgusting discoveries!

The survey visited 90 offices in 3 cities: 30 in San Francisco, 30 in New York and 30 in Tucson. Before revealing the top 5 places where bacteria have a party, it's important to point out two important facts: climate and gender matter (and a lot) matter. Why? Well, cities with drier, warmer weather, such as Tucson, are less prone to contamination. New York, the city that never stops, was the most contaminated of all and San Francisco the cleanest.

Male-occupied posts averaged 10% to 20% more bacteria than women's jobs.

This can be explained by two factors: men tend to be larger than women, and so they shed more dead cells and have more area to carry our little bacteria. Also, they tend to be a little less hygienic (is there an alcohol gel there?).

Let's go to the list!

1. Sinks and handles

A place where hands pass every day? Yes, latches, handles and sinks earn the most contaminated points award, according to Kimberly-Clark's ugly survey. Sinks tend to be even worse: 75% of them were highly contaminated. Meanwhile, only 48% of the microwave handles were in the same degree.

2. Your desk!

Do you think the danger is only in the bathroom or kitchen? So think again. Your desk, where you spend most of your time, is the second most contaminated place in the workplace. On average, researchers found 400 times more bacteria on the tables than on a toilet seat, believe me? We strongly recommend that you stop eating while you work! And don't even think about getting that cookie that fell on the keyboard, see!

3. Mugs and cups

According to a study by scientists at the University of Arizona, 90% of office mugs and cups are covered with germs and bacteria. The worst: 20% had faecal coliforms. This is easily understandable since these are places that our hands touch all the time - and probably poorly washed hands, isn't it?

4. Pens and pads / notebooks

With the evolution of technology, we are using fewer pens and pads and more electronic gadgets. But still, germs and bacteria can survive long in these places. The good news is that the old contamination meetings were held at copiers, faxes, and printers, which now receive far less attention. It's worth rubbing an alcohol into your favorite pen, keeping an eye on where you leave it, and of course not even thinking about putting it in your mouth (or lending it to fellow men).

5. Your Phone

The landline, even if shared, is a veritable rave party for bacteria. Worse to know that this bacterial means of transport is also very close to the mouth and ears? Yeah! Once again, the culprits here are our hands, which do not receive the proper cleaning they should. Cell phones also have their share of responsibility, as we don't stick to them for anything - not even to go to the bathroom!

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