Kimberly-Clark Professional released a study which showed the filthiest surfaces that Americans touch on their way to work. Of all the surfaces, the number one in the rank turns out to be (are you ready for this?) gas pump handles.
Filling up your car is the easiest way to contract different kinds of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. That’s according to the study released on Tuesday by Kimberly-Clark Professional, a unit of personal hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark Corp. A group of hygienist tested hundreds of surfaces around six cities in the U.S. to determine which of them have the highest health risks.
The team swabbed those surfaces and found out that gas pumps were the filthiest. Next in rank were handles on public mailboxes, escalator rails, and ATM buttons. Following these objects were parking meters and kiosks, crosswalk buttons and buttons on vending machines in shopping malls. Imagine that!
This is one of the reasons why flu and cold are easily spread. An infected person can sneeze into his hand while filling up his car with gas. The unsuspecting person next in line could probably have a weak immune system. He touches the gas pump handle and inadvertently wipes his nose with that hand. The germs then take advantage of his low immunity and launch a full-blown attack on his respiratory system and poof! He is bedridden for a week due to flu.
We are quite unaware of the level of filth of the objects that we touch every day, especially those in public places. According to Dr. Kelly Arehart, program leader of Kimberly-Clark’s Healthy Workplace Project, the main reason for the amount of germs on these objects is the fact that nobody actually cleans them. Because they are being touched daily, nobody bothers to disinfect those things.
Researchers processed the swabs from the surfaces for levels of adenosine triphosphate. This would indicate the presence of animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast or mold cells. They said that when there is a high level of adenosine triphosphate in the swab, it is safe to say that they are transmitting diseases.
The swabs used in the study were taken in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia. The result should prompt the public to increase hygiene standards, especially with regards to the mentioned objects. Those in charge should take care to clean those surfaces at least once each day. A little sanitizing will surely go a long way in controlling the spread of germs.
As for the people, the results of this study ought to increase their awareness regarding transfer of germs. This does not only point to the objects mentioned in the study. They should also take into consideration all the other public objects that they come in contact with, such as door knobs in public restrooms, door handles of restaurants, and pens on bank counters. Brad Reynolds, Dr. Arehart’s colleague, said that germs from the hands of one person can transfer seven times before it is able to leave the skin. Therefore, people should wash their hands as often as possible, especially before and after working. Their health is in their hands — literally.
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