That's disgusting: Sharing earbuds

By Amy Johnson

Thursday, October 1, 2009

 You can’t find your earbuds but refuse to head off to campus without your iPod. Oh look, how convenient — your roommate’s are right there on the table. Surely she won’t mind — after all, what’s a little earwax between friends? Well, as a matter of fact, a little earwax can go a long way.

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Photo illustration by Amy Johnson

No buds between buddies: Sharing earbuds can pass bacteria and even ear infection from earwax.

 Everyone has bacteria and fungus in his or her ear canals that are normally in balance, and one generally keeps the other from taking over, says Robert Dinsdale, otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates.

 A study published in the Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences found that regularly using earbuds significantly increased bacterial growth in the ear, potentially leading to ear infections. The study also found that 92 percent of commonly shared earbuds tested contained harmful bacteria. The same bacteria was found on only 8 percent of earbuds that were shared less frequently.

 Dinsdale says if you’re sharing with someone who has a healthy ear canal you should be safe because most bacteria that is carried on earbuds will die in a dry environment within a couple of days. But infections can still be passed on. If you really want to avoid getting an ear infection, Disdale recommends just not sharing. Either that or be prepared to start examining your friend’s ear canals before use.

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