ATM keyboards riddled with bacteria, finds study

If the cash crunch caused by the demonetisation of large-denomination currency notes in India were not enough, there is another reason to approach ATMs with kid gloves – literally.

A study published in the American Society for Microbiology's mSphere Journal found that keypads on ATM machines all over New York are covered in bacteria.

The finding may not be surprise, given that the machines are used by thousands daily. But we should be warned: the problem is probably worse in a tropical climate like India's.

In search of ''urban microbes,'' investigators swabbed 66 ATMs in eight neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, including South Harlem, Midtown, Chinatown, Flushing and West Brighton.

Most of the microbes came from human skin, food, and household surfaces including from TVs, the bathroom, and even pillows. In midtown Manhattan, ATMs were caked in food germs from sugary baked goods.

In addition to bank ATMs, researchers also sampled machines located in non-bank venues. Laundromats and corner stores had the highest number of bacteria. The most common were lactic acid bacteria, found in decomposing plants and milk products.

So if it's too hot to actually wear gloves, perhaps one should carry anti-bacterial solutions of the kind deployed in the better hospitals, or some form of sterile wipes, when visiting ATMs – especially now, when demonetisation has made long queues the norm.