Driving a dirty car? Here are the risks

Have you been unfortunate to take a ride in a supremely dirty vehicle that not only leaves you nauseated but also dirty all over?

Worse, have you had a ride in a pest-infested vehicle, whereby you are forced to park and attempt to kill flying insects, especially cockroaches — an insect that poses a common infestation threat to humans?

Indeed, pest control specialists warn that cockroaches fester in dirty areas; and as they walk around, they track in lots of bacteria and germs.

“They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast-off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children,” experts warn.

The way some people treat the vehicle they use leaves much to be desired. Many people don’t even know that they should clean the interior and exterior of their vehicle on a daily basis. Such neglected vehicles are usually littered with all sorts of dirty stuffs, including used recharge cards, sweet and chewing gum wraps, empty cans, spilled foods and all sorts. For such people, they are never alone when they drive — even when there’s no human companion sitting on the passenger side, germs fill the gap!

This may sound exaggerated, but then, take a look at your car and see if you are not guilty of this malaise.

Germ-ridden

Those of us who ferry our children around in our cars are familiar with the sight. But while we may not stop children from being children, how often do we clean up after each outing that leaves the car in a mess?

Researchers at the Queen Mary University, London, led by the Director of Biomedical Science, Dr. Ron Cutler, found that while 80 bacteria lurk on each square inch of toilet bowl, around 700 harmful germs reside in the car’s interior!

Cutler counsels, “A car is the perfect place for germs to breed, especially if you eat in it and leave litter or uneaten food around. To avoid potential health risks, it would be wise to regularly clean your car inside and out.”

Again, researchers at Aston University in Birmingham found that the average vehicle has approximately 283 different types of bacteria in every square centimeter! The study author, Anthony Hilton, who is the director of Biology and Biomedical Science at Aston, notes that the car is consistently dirtier than the home.

Environmental biologists say car interior is a perfect arena for germs to breed, especially because we usually leave our vehicles sitting in the hot sun all day, unwittingly providing convivial atmosphere for bacteria to thrive.

Ever heard of Typhoid Mary — the American housemaid who literally shed typhoid tissues as she moved around, generously passing disease around effortlessly? Well, it’s not only Mary that does that; rather, experts say, every individual that gets in your car carries germs which s/he leaves behind when s/he gets out! Fascinating, isn’t it? That’s why you can’t afford to neglect the cleanliness of your car at any point in time.

Virtually the entire interior of the car is susceptible to germ infestation; but certain parts take the prize in terms of their susceptibility. These include the boot, floor carpets, door handles, steering wheel, the dashboard, and the money/phone holder.

The London scientists emphasise that the car boot is the filthiest area, with 1,000 bacteria for every one and a half square inches!

Some of the germs that can be found in cars are very dangerous; they can cause skin infections and other serious conditions. One of them is bacillus cereus — a type of bacteria that produces toxins. A nutritionist, Dr. Philomena Adidi, warns that these toxins can cause two types of illness: “One type characterised by diarrhoea and the other, called emetic toxin, by nausea and vomiting.”

Adidi says the bacteria are present in foods, and are capable of multiplying fast at room temperature.

“A variety of foods, particularly rice and leftovers, as well as sauces, soups, and other prepared foods that have sat out too long at room temperature are ideal places for bacillus cereus to thrive,” she adds.

Another germ that can take free ride in your car is arthrobacter — a bacterium that is commonly found in soil, and can therefore be transported into your car as you walk in and out. Regularly cleaning your car will save you from any likely infection you may have transported into it via your shoes.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is another bacterium that takes free rides in your car. Physicians lament that it is responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans, as it has become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat ordinary staphylococcus infections.

The MRSA infection often begins as a painful boil, and as you come into contact with other people, they also get infected with it. Eeew!

Since most cars are furnished with upholstered fabric, it’s not surprising that they are also ridden with dust mites.

As scary as it is, you can’t see dust mites with naked eyes, as they are so tiny that scientists can only view them under a microscope. Yet, as tiny as they are, having them in your car is like asking for trouble: as parasitic insects, dust mites feed on the flakes of skin that people and pets shed daily and they thrive in warm and humid environments.

And if you like to have your dog or cat take a ride with you, no sweat; only realise that your furry friends can also shed fleas in your car. Fleas are parasitic insects that can cause rashes, allergic reactions and spread disease when they come in contact with human skin.