Phones Riddled With Far More Bacteria Than Toilets (VIDEO)

Are You Texting Into A Toilet?

Are you texting into a toilet seat?

MSNBC asked that question in a recent segment on the 5 "germiest" places in your life. The answer may shock you.

According to MSNBC, phones carry 500 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

And a recent article in the Sacramento Bee offered even more jaw-dropping stats on the germs, bacteria, and other gunk that can be found on our phones.

The Sacramento Bee reports,

British researchers provide some stomach-churning data: Mobile phones harbor 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom.

According to [Stanford University doctoral student Timothy] Julian's study, published online in July by the Journal of Applied Microbiology, the risks of transmitting pathogens from glass surfaces to a person's skin are relatively high.

"If you put virus on a surface, like an iPhone, about 30 percent of it will get on your fingertips," Julian said. In turn, "a fair amount of it may go from your fingers to your eyes, mouth or nose," the most likely routes of infection.

How can you stay clean and avoid getting sick? First, "look but don't touch" when you or a friend is sharing a text, photo, or other information on a phone. Second, Health magazine's Roshini Raj advises users to clean their phones once a day using antibacterial wipes with an alcohol content of at least 60 percent.

Got other tips? Share them in the comments section below.

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