Women's Work Areas Dirtier than Men's?

Who do you think is the bigger slob, a man or a woman? The answer may surprise you. In honor of the curious affairs of men and women, I bring you this little nugget from the Arizona Daily Star. While it's old hat (to the point where it's become an annual story among the mainstream media) that your keyboard is dirtier than a toilet, a new study from the University of Arizona has found that women have "three to four times the number of bacteria" on their office work surfaces than men do.

The results fly in the face of everything we think we know about women (dainty and immaculate) and men (filthy pigs). But while women's offices looked cleaner, a hidden menace apparently was lying just below the surface: Germs. Everywhere. (The study looked at common office implements, including computers, phones, and drawers.)

Why the big difference between guys and gals? Researcher Charles Gerba pins the blame on a few major trouble spots: Makeup cases are the worst sources of bacteria in the office. Using lotion and makeup, the story notes, is especially dangerous because it causes women to touch their face and mouth constantly, abetting the spread of those disgusting and vile bacteria.

Amusingly, Gerba also notes that women are the harbingers of more food in the office than men are (though I'm tragically guilty of this myself), an obvious germ magnet. Best quote from the story: "I was really surprised how much food there was in a woman's desk," he said. "If there's ever a famine, that's the first place I'll look for food."

Alas, guys, don't think you're off the hook: The single worst source of germs in any office? Your wallet. Think about it.

Now go wash your hands and buy some Purell.