Really? I don't think there would be any change or effect regarding microbes passed around the population if pedestrian crossing buttons did not exist. They just aren't a disease vector, or at the most optimistic are down in the statistical noise at a one in millions chance of having an effect.
Yeah. Given that coffee pots are the most virulent vector in the workplace, it seems unlikely that a button everyone presses with their fingers is not an important vector as well. The issue is getting germs on your fingertips, and then wiping your eyes or nose with those fingers.
If pump handles are a problem, I bet traffic buttons are as well.
Interesting, did not know about coffee pots. However for pump handles the contact area and time in contact is much greater than a single touch of one fingertip, plus the fact that it is much more likely for the hand on the pump to then immediately be in contact with drinking utensils or even wiping the mouth etc. So I still think crossing buttons are not a plausible vector. Be happy to read any sources that contradict this though...
Just a quick and dirty literature search on pubmed:
When you have a cold or flu and wipe your nose, pressing a light switch transfers active viruses to the switch.
(J Med Virol. 2007 Oct;79(10):1606-10. Environmental contamination with rhinovirus and transfer to fingers of healthy individuals by daily life activity. Winther B1, McCue K, Ashe K, Rubino JR, Hendley JO.)
Flu and cold viruses found on handrails, TSA luggage trays, & buttons of airport payment machines
(BMC Infect Dis. 2018 Aug 29;18(1):437. doi: 10.1186/s12879-018-3150-5. Deposition of respiratory virus pathogens on frequently touched surfaces at airports. Ikonen N1, Savolainen-Kopra C2, Enstone JE3, Kulmala I4, Pasanen P5, Salmela A5, Salo S4, Nguyen-Van-Tam JS3, Ruutu P2; PANDHUB consortium.
Viruses contaminating touched surfaces last for about 7 days, maybe more.
(Am J Infect Control. 2018 Jan;46(1):105-107. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.07.014. Epub 2017 Oct 12. Isolation and identification of human coronavirus 229E from frequently touched environmental surfaces of a university classroom that is cleaned daily. Bonny TS1, Yezli S2, Lednicky JA3.
Viruses on contaminated surfaces last longer outdoors in sub-zero temperatures than in heated indoor environments
(Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 Oct;46(4):901-5. Survival of human parainfluenza viruses in the South Polar environment. Parkinson AJ, Muchmore HG, Scott EN, Scott LV.)
Touching a surface and then wiping your eyes or nose gives you a 50% chance of getting a cold/flu
(Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Nov;116(5):828-33. Transmission of experimental rhinovirus infection by contaminated surfaces. Gwaltney JM Jr, Hendley JO.)
Really? I don't think there would be any change or effect regarding microbes passed around the population if pedestrian crossing buttons did not exist. They just aren't a disease vector, or at the most optimistic are down in the statistical noise at a one in millions chance of having an effect.