LIFT BUTTONS

Lift buttons 'are 40 times dirtier than toilet seats'

Dr Nicholas Moon, from Microban Europe, which carried out the research for the University of Arizona in the U.S., said: 'In a busy building, a lift button can be touched by dozens of people who will have come into contact with all kinds of bacteria every hour.

Lift buttons 'are 40 times dirtier than toilet seats'

The bacteria on the lift buttons could include stomach bugs such as E.coli, the researchers say.

A study carried out in hotels, restaurants, banks, offices and airports found 313 colony forming units of bacteria on every square centimetre of lift button.

Lift buttons 'are 40 times dirtier than toilet seats'

The equivalent surface area of toilet seat had only 8 units.

Computer keyboards have 4 times more germs than toilets.

'Even if the buttons are cleaned regularly, the potential for the build up of bacteria is high.'

'The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hands before you eat or handle food.'

Thank You