You wouldn’t put your hands in a public toilet (or any toilet, for that matter), would you? Well, then you should probably steer clear of ATMs too.
Researchers took swabs from a number of ATMs and public toilets in England, and then compared them under microscopes after allowing the bacteria to grow overnight. Richard Hastings, one of the researchers, said:
We were surprised by our results because the ATM machines were shown to be heavily contaminated with bacteria; to the same level as nearby public lavatories. In addition the bacteria we detected on ATMs were similar to those from the toilet, which are well known as causes of common human illnesses.
And those common illnesses just happened to be illnesses that cause things like … diarrhea!
While the study was conducted by a company who conveniently happens to manufacture antibacterial product coating, diarrhea isn’t something I’m gonna fool around with. Latex gloves dipped in hand sanitizer will now be just as important as remembering my PIN.
What do you guys think? Disgusted? Not surprised?
—Photo haslanmadli/Photobucket
Carry a small packet of ‘Anti Bacterial’ wipes to clean any multi person interactive user interfaces. Especially with the introduction of Windows 7-touch screen this should become common practice in all schools and workplaces.
Signed Carl Barron Chairman of agpcuk
Those ATMS are dirty, so dirty.