h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have been following these theories over the last year or so and find this 'too clean for our own good' to be really fascinating, having had close contact with those who have obsessive cleaning compulsions and their offspring who have allergies and auto immune conditions.

Yesterday I was told that the church group offering tea and coffee for the congegration have had to have hygiene training ( which was mostly common sense and they already were ensuring), but they were quite dismayed when they were told not to shake people's hands whilst serving tea, without handwashing each time in the specially designated handbasin. I can quite understand the need to prevent food poisoning or transmission of MRSA, but we are now being scared to death (pun not intended) of the common cold.

I know someone who won't use a supermarket trolley without first wiping the handle with a disinfectant wipe, they are too scared to touch anything that has been touched by a stranger. She won't read library books either for the same reason.

Thanks for the article!

Agreed lanzababy, we liked reading this one in-house as well.

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=5e77ed4a-0881-4715-8963-72663b5bd13a&k=89059

The active ingredient (tryclosan) in most antibacterial soaps should not be allowed anywhere near children. The fact that it washes down the drain and persists through to the water systems suggests that tryclosan should be banned from consumer products.

Thank you lanzababy, Eds and Rumbleghost. I've just notice this is on the Front Page today (since yesterday?) - a first Edited Entry for this researcher

The hygiene precautions of that church group, seem well and truly over the top, lanzababy. That sounds like the sort of environment ideal for growing obsessive compulsive fear of dirt. Worrying really.

Interesting article, Rumbleghost. One example of this form of extremism. And it's also interesting, given the extent of the mania for personal and environmental sterility (beyond special areas like hospitals), that none of those subscribers to the cult popped up to defend it when the entry was in Peer Review. I take that as a sign that h2g2 researchers are reasonable and balanced people