Any of these on your commute?
Regardless of how you commute to work, it’s very likely that you’re going to come into contact with a variety of germs and bugs.
According to research by the London Metropolitan University, 12.8 million people use London’s Tube lines, buses, and taxis on a daily basis and you happen to be a germophobe, this research by Dr Paul Matewele won’t exactly put your fears at ease.
He discovered that nine of the world’s deadliest superbugs have been found on the London Underground.
The methodology in the research involved involved four swabs being taken from the seats and handles on each Tube line for analysis. On London buses and private taxis, the same areas were swabbed. Samples were taken from the inner handle in the taxis.
After studying the swabs from the London Underground trains, here are the Tube lines that were found to be the dirtiest.
Victoria line – 22 bacteria found
Circle line – 20 bacteria found
Piccadilly line – 20 bacteria found
Jubilee line – 18 bacteria found
Northern Line – 18 bacteria found
District Line – 17 bacteria found
Waterloo and City line – 16 bacteria found
Central line – 16 bacteria found
Hammersmith and City – 14 bacteria found
Bakerloo line – 13 bacteria found
Metropolitan line – 11 bacteria found
Despite this discovery, Jill Collis, director of health, safety and environment for Transport for London, told The Metro that: “The Tube is an extremely safe environment and our trains and stations are professionally cleaned throughout the day and night. There is no cause for customers to worry about bacteria on the Tube or do anything different in terms of hygiene than they would in other public places.’
This interactive map of the research should give you more information.
