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Germaphobes Beware: The Dirt on Your Phone

A new list from Mashable may give you pause about the technology that's rarely far from your face.

Would you put your pet's food dish against the side of your face? Settle in for an impromptu nap on the kitchen counter? Well, consider the fact that these often disgusting surfaces have nothing on that smartphone that's never far from your hand or your mouth.

A new list compiled by Mashable compares the germ count on your smartphone with the count discovered on common household items. Mobile phones top this frightening list of five, viewable in the video below. Let's keep those phones clean, people.



Photo: iStockphoto

Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.