public transportation

Many people are not aware of how often we are exposed to bacteria and viruses.

A report examining attitudes to cleanliness and general hygiene has been released to coincide with Global Handwashing Day.  One in ten people have admitted avoiding public transport and trips to the movies because of worries over cleanliness and general hygiene levels.

 

Nearly two thirds of people questioned for the report said they had avoided a gathering or cancelled plans due to concerns over poor hygiene levels in public places.

Nearly half said they had refrained from using a public lavatory while a quarter avoided swimming or using showers at a gym because of cleanliness levels.

Seven per cent of people also admitted they had turned down dinner at a friends house because they were worried about the levels of hygiene and cleanliness.

The report, conducted for hygiene firm SCA, reflects a growing obsession with cleanliness to the point that people will avoid social situations if they think it will expose them to germs.

But separate research released on Friday suggests that many of us are not aware of how often we are exposed to bacteria and viruses.

Scientists from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London, found that one in six mobile phones in Britain are contaminated with bacteria from faecal matter.

The SCA Hygiene Matters Report reveals that women take more responsibility than men for improving public hygiene standards with 51% saying they would personally take action to contribute to good public hygiene in their community compared to 46% of men.

The report questioned 7,000 people in nine countries – UK, Germany, China, France, Australia, Mexico, Russia, Sweden and the United States – about their views on hygiene and society.

Phil Warner, regional director of SCA, parent company to Bodyform and Velvet, said: “From refusing to use public toilets and communal showers, to even turning down dinner at a friend’s house the results highlighted how hygiene is clearly at the forefront of people’s minds.

“Across the UK it was reassuring to see that cleanliness is something that we still hold in high regard. In fact 73% of women said that keeping clean is the most important part of bringing up their child.”

Global Handwashing Day – which is held on October 15 every year – aims to transform the action of washing hands with soap into an automatic behaviour, deeply set in our daily lives in an attempt to reduce the spread of illnesses such as flu.

Initiatives and events to promote the practice in homes, schools, workplaces and communities are held worldwide.

Via Telegraph