It accompanies us everywhere, at any time of day, so much so that many of us use our smartphone in the bathroom. A habit not without risks, as several studies have pointed out…
In bed at dawn, on the table during breakfast, in your hand on the metro… and even in the toilet, our smartphone really does go everywhere with us!
Impaired sleep, impaired eyesight, increased risk of developing cancerous brain tumors – if the health dangers caused by excessive use of the Internet have already been the subject of numerous studies, a recent British survey conducted by the YouGov polling institute highlights new risks.
9 out of 10 people take their cell phone to the toilet
According to the survey, 90% of us take our cell phone to the toilet, and 57% use it there. This practice is not without its risks, first and foremost hemorrhoids.
Don’t see the connection? Well, when you take your laptop to the toilet, you tend to sit for much longer than you should.
As a result, prolonged sitting puts pressure on the anus, which can lead to hemorrhoids. To avoid them, it’s advisable not to spend more than 15 minutes in the toilet!
The smartphone, a breeding ground for bacteria
What’s more, a cell phone is undoubtedly one of the dirtiest objects… seven times dirtier than a toilet seat, according to a study by British company Initial Washroom Hygiene.
Taken everywhere, even to the toilet, the cell phone becomes a veritable nest of microbes, and can even carry pathogenic micro-organisms, notably E. coli bacteria. These are bacteria found in the intestines of humans and certain animals. While they « only » cause diarrhoea in adults, they can be very dangerous for newborn babies (meningitis, septicemia…).
More than 7,000 bacteria cover the surface of a telephone
In 2010, researchers at the University of Manchester discovered that over 7,000 bacteria colonize the screens of our digital devices. While most of them are benign, some are very dangerous.
These include salmonella (which can lead to salmonellosis and typhoid fever), Staphylococcus aureus (potentially fatal infections) and Actinobacteria (possibly responsible for tuberculosis and diphtheria).
In addition to bacteria, telephones transmit viruses that can live on hard plastic surfaces for days (up to a week!).
This is the case for the flu virus and Covid-19. So remember to leave your mobile when you go to the toilet or, failing that, systematically disinfect it with an antiseptic solution containing at least 70% alcohol.