Car insurance quote news
11/02/2009
Research reveals dirty cars harbour bacteria
Car insurance is an essential purchase for motorists - but microbiological research has also highlighted the importance of keeping cars clean and shiny.
Most vehicles have been found to be home to an average of 283 different types of bacteria in every square centimetre of a car's interior.
The dirtiest car part was, on average, the gear stick with 356 germs found per square centimetre, although one car boot was found to have 850 bacteria per sq cm!
Some harmful bacteria were found including E. coli which also indicated that Salmonella may be present or could establish itself in future.
The research was carried out by a team of microbiologists at Aston University.
Biology and biomedical science director, Dr Anthony Hilton, said, "People would be horrified at the thought of eating off their toilet seat but few realise eating off their car dashboard is just as likely to make them sick.
"While most bacteria we've found are unlikely to cause serious health problems, some cars, particularly those which regularly carry children and animals, play host to potentially harmful germs."
The study also revealed a strong connection between car mileage and the fungal and bacterial quality. In addition, heater blowers were found to increase numbers of airborne organisms, especially in older cars which are less likely to have air filters.
The research demonstrated that, while many UK motorists might spend much time and money searching for a cheap car insurance quote - effort spent on car cleanliness is minimal.
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