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The Facts About Subway Warts
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 6, 2008
Modified Sep 8, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 6, 2008
Modified Sep 8, 2008
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Yesterday we explored commuters who place their bare feet on the subway seats, but just what is the consequence of placing bare skin on anything underground? Well, Dr. Jay Parkinson just happened to discuss the dreaded "subway warts" over at Free Williamsburg recently. He says that "fungi really like warm, moist environments like showers and locker rooms. The last time I put my hand on a subway pole, it wasn't warm nor moist. But it did feel like someone just slimed it with a slice of bologna." Well, slime just can't be good, but in the end he notes that "it's very unlikely that you'd get a fungal infection from casual contact with a subway pole." Frequent hand washing is recommended, however, because that slime could at the very least land you with a nasty cold.
Tagged
health
Jay Parkinson
subway
subway warts
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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