Bank cards and notes as dirty as unwashed toilet bowls

You’ve heard of dirty money, but this is ridiculous.

A survey has revealed that one in every 12 bank cards, one in every 16 bank notes, and one in every 10 people’s hands are as dirty as an unwashed toilet bowl.

Figures compiled to mark the UN’s Global Handwashing Day show that, despite the vital role keeping clean plays in preventing infection and disease, a large section of the population fails to adhere to the common sense advice.

According to the joint University of London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study, one in 10 people’s hands are regularly so contaminated with faecal organisms that the level of bacteria on their skin is equal to that found on a dirty toilet bowl.

The situation is repeated in 8% of bank cards and 6% of bank notes — with a shocking 26% of hands, 10% of bank cards, and 14% of bank notes showing some lesser form of the dirt infestation.

The findings are based on examinations of 272 people’s hands and wallets in London, Birmingham, and Liverpool this year.

Due to similarity of lifestyles, the situation is predicted to be mirrored here.

Lead researcher Ron Cutler said the disturbing findings — which also include the fact that one in three people do not wash their hands with soap — highlight the need for improved hygiene public awareness campaigns.

“People may tell us they wash their hands, but the research shows us different, and highlights just how easily transferable these pathogens are,” said Dr Cutler.

The study comes in the wake of previous research from Harvard in the US, which warned the lack of a noticeable improvement in general hygiene during the swine flu epidemic risked significantly increasing the danger of the virus.

But be warned: Bacteria are not the only microscopic threats that can be found on everyday items.

A 2009 study also found that 95% of US dollar bills contained traces of cocaine, while a 2003 survey showed “almost all” German euro notes had the same “clearly measurable” problem.