Man is showing dirty hands with many viruses and germs

Germs are everywhere, and most aren't quite so visible to the human eye.

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Can You Spot the Germiest Places in Your Life?

These spots have more ‘ew’ than you knew

Austin O’Connor

Published April 26, 2018

10 Questions

28174c38-652f-4aeb-9200-f75039ace7b0

Can You Spot the Germiest Places in Your Life?

[ {
  "question" : "This everyday item can contain 20 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "TV remote",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Computer keyboard",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Smartphone",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Car keys",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "In a 2011 study, researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found fecal matter on 6 of every 10 smartphones tested.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "This is the most disgusting spot in your car:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Seat belt buckle",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Car door handle",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Kids car seat",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Gear shift",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Manual gear shifts harbor 356 germs per square inch, according to a British study.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Even flight attendants are known to avoid this high-flying germ-bomb:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Blanket",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Toilet flush button",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Hot tea or coffee",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Air vent knob",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A 2012 EPA survey found more than 10 percent of commercial airplanes tested positive for coliform in the tap water.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Think your office is clean? Think again. This spot is the dirtiest spot in a typical workplace:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Water cooler",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Computer mouse",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Break room faucet",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Phone keypad",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A 2012 study found high levels of contamination on 3 out of every 4 common-room faucet handles.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "To avoid germs at an airport, don't go near these:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Check-in kiosk",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Gate-seat armrest",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Water fountain",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Escalator rail",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "In a recent study, the kiosk screens tested at bacteria levels more than 10x higher than any other area of the terminal.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Next time you check into a hotel, think twice before you use this:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Bathtub",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Light switch",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "TV remote",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Bathrobe",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Light switches have the most colony-forming units of bacteria, as well as the highest levels of fecal bacteria.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Things you didn't know you got with your movie ticket: Germs! Here's the grossest thing at the cinema:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Popcorn",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Theater floor",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "3-D glasses",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Your seat",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "One study found the glasses caked with germs, including those that cause conjunctivitis, food poisoning, sepsis and pneumonia.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "If you use this in a public restroom, washing your hands may do more harm than good:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Paper seat cover",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Air dryer",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Soap dispenser",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Paper towel dispenser",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Hand dryers suck up dirty bathroom air, which contains high levels of fecal matter, and blow it back out at high speed.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "This common kitchen appliance can harbor dangerous bacteria that contributes to lung infection:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Microwave",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Coffee maker",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Oven vent",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Dishwasher",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A 2011 study sampled dishwashers from 6 continents. More than half tested positive for black yeast, which can cause lung infections.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Health experts advise doing this while washing your hands:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Singing",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Dancing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Whistling",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Air guitar",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Doctors say to wash hands for at least 20 seconds. One way to ensure you've washed long enough is to sing \"Happy Birthday\" to yourself twice.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Can You Spot the Germiest Places in Your Life?

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