We all know someone who refuses to take off their festival wristband.
Some think it’s a ‘cool’ thing to do, but there’s now a scientific reason to tell your mate to wise up and cut loose the grubby thread.
Apparently they cause boils. That’s right, boils.
A microbiologist at the University of Surrey, Dr Alison Cottell, recently tested two wristbands from the Reading Festival that had been worn for two years after the festival had finished.
The results showed that the wristbands contained over 10,000 bacterial cells, 20 times more than you’d find in normal clothing that would be subject to regular laundering.
The bacterial cells found were made up of micrococci and staphylococci, a bacterium that can cause boils, food poisoning or infections.
Speaking to University newspaper The Tab, Cottell said: “The amount of bacteria that grew on wristbands was about 20 times higher than you would expect to find on the sleeve of a piece of clothing that would be regularly laundered.
“Staphylococci are usually harmless although they can cause boils and infections of cuts and grazes, and can also cause a form of acute food poisoning if they are ingested.”
No doubt some hardcore festival goers will ignore the news, but other people’s blood isn’t the only thing that’ll be boliing if they’re not careful.
H/T The Telegraph
