Effect of smartphone case material on bacteria growth

Atlı, Ahmet Oğuz (2014) Effect of smartphone case material on bacteria growth. Other thesis, TED ANKARA KOLEJİ.

[img]
Preview
Text (pdf)
Ahmet_Oguz_Atli_EE.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Download (311kB) | Preview

Abstract

Mobile phones, especially ones with internet capabilities, have recently entered our lives and become essential parts of our daily lives. As a result, they have become an important factor in the spread of pathogens, especially among teenagers. The aim of this research is to compare smartphone case materials and the glass back of the phone (Apple iPhone 4S®), based on their contamination by bacteria after 1 week of usage. The research question of this investigation is: “How do the leather, silicone and plastic smartphone cases and the glass back of the phone without any case differ in terms of total bacteria count, measured using the viable cell counting method after a timespan of one week with daily usage of exactly one charge cycle?” The method used to investigate the research question is the viable cell counting method. The case is first disinfected and used everyday until the phone battery runs out. Culture is taken from the case by a cotton swab after 1 week and then is serial diluted up to the factor of 105. All dilution factors are incubated in LB agar plates for 24 hours at 37ºC. Bacterial colonies are counted, and the dilution factor with colony count between 30-300 bacteria is used in data analysis. The mean results of viable bacteria number per ml of culture (in CFU/ml) are as follows: 8.86x105 for leather, 7.28x105 for silicone, 6.32x105 for plastic and 4.42x105 for glass. ANOVA tests proved that there is indeed significant difference between test groups (p = 0.015114832). The conclusion is that all smartphones get contaminated by bacteria, but the glass has the lowest bacteria count showing that smartphone cases should be avoided for hygiene as much as possible. If a case is absolutely necessary, leather ones should not be preferred.

Item Type: Thesis (Other)
Additional Information: Supervisor: Demet İzgü, IB Notu: B
Uncontrolled Keywords: leather, silicone, plastic, smartphone cases, bacteria
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Depositing User: Users 114 not found.
Date Deposited: 09 Sep 2014 09:51
Last Modified: 09 Sep 2014 09:51
URI: http://tedprints.tedankara.k12.tr/id/eprint/451

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item