I met a friend who is a pediatrician yesterday. He told me that mobile phones are covered with up to 18 times more living bacteria than the flush handle on a men 's lavatory.
Swabs and analysis of 30 mobile handsets found that seven had high or warning levels of environmental bacteria, according to consumer group.
One harboured levels of bacteria, including faecal coliforms, high enough to give its user a serious stomach upset.
The findings suggest millions of Taiwan mobiles would exceed the recommended acceptable levels of bacteria.
While not immediately harmful, elevated levels of bacteria indicate poor hygiene and can act as a breeding ground for more serious germs.
Hygiene expert who work in a hospital said: "The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising."
The tests showed how easily bacteria could linger on the surface of a phone, which could be passed on to other people if they held the handset to look at photos or other applications.