Six germiest places inside your office

Going to office pantry for lunch break? A new study recommends giving it a good cleaning first. Researchers presented a list of the top six germ hotspots in your office.

According to the article from Agence France-Presse, the American cleaning and paper product manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Professional, together with the researchers swabbed some 4,800 surface in office buildings, such as law firms and health care companies, housing some 3,000 employees.

The swabs went through a machine which measures Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, the energy molecule found in all animal, plant, bacteria, yeast, and mold cells.

Charles Gerba, a University of Arizona professor known as "Dr. Germ" said, "People are aware of the risk of germs in the restroom, but areas like break rooms have not received the same degree of attention."

Dr. Germ added that the study demonstrates that contamination can be spread throughout the workplace when office workers heat up lunch, make coffee, or simply type on their keyboards.

Germ hotspots in the office with readings of 300 or more include:

• 75 percent of break room sink-faucet handles
• 48 percent of microwave door handles
• 27 percent of keyboards
• 26 percent of refrigerator door handles
• 23 percent of water fountain buttons
• 21 percent of vending machine buttons

Places in your office that "could be cleaner," with readings of more than 100:

• 91 percent of break room sink-faucet handles
• 80 percent of microwave door handles
• 69 percent of keyboards
• 69 percent of refrigerator door handles
• 53 percent of water fountain buttons
• 51 percent of computer mice
• 51 percent of desk phones
• 48 percent of coffee pots and dispensers
• 43 percent of vending machine buttons — ARA