The South Korea Consumer Protection Board released the report early 2006 after conducting an examination about bacteria contamination on 120 items at public facilities which people commonly touch with their hands in Seoul and nearby cities.

 

According to the Korea Times newspaper, the board examined 20 hand straps on trains, 20 hand straps on buses, 20 toilet doorknobs at four department stores, 20 lift buttons at four department stores, 20 handles of shopping carts at four discount stores, and 20 computer mice at four internet cafes. A board spokeswoman said that the best way to stop the spread of infectious diseases by hand contact was to wash your hands with soap.

Quoting statistics, the spokeswoman said that while more than 77% of people were aware of the importance of washing hands, only 47.9% actually bothered to wash them.

 

The most bacteria contaminated areas found (measured in CFU per 10 sq cm):

Shopping cart handles: 1100

Computer mice: 690

Bus hand straps: 380

Public toilet handles and door knobs: 340

Lift buttons: 130

Train hand straps: 86