Men Have More Bacteria in Their Offices: Study

If you're a guy, chances are your office is swarming with microbial coworkers. OK, it's actually probably true for women as well, but a new study has found that on average, men have 10% to 20% more bacteria in their offices, the New York Times reports. "It could be men are just bigger—they have bigger mouths and more surface area," reasons the author of the study. "But it could also be that men are less hygienic."

The study examined items like chairs, phones, and keyboards in more than 90 offices in three cities: New York, San Francisco, and Tuscon. The results also revealed that New York offices were more bacteria-ridden than San Francisco ones. So where are these critters coming from? You, mostly. "You’re constantly probably shedding these bacteria in this environment," the author explains; most can be traced back to soil, or to the human mouth or skin. (More bacteria stories.)