CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Each area of the body surface acquires a characteristic flora of organisms well adapted to growth at that specified environment. This resident indigenous micro biota tends to suppress the intruders by competition for space and food supply or by the production of metabolites that are antagonistic to the survival of the intruder. These intruders could the dislodged from their environment when sneezing, coughing, belching, or yawning. Handkerchiefs are often used for wiping face, closing of the mouth or nose during the expression of reflex activities thereby constituting an abode for microorganisms.
A newspaper article describing a previous Life cycle analysis (LCA) on handkerchief versus tissue use (Black burn, 2009) found that handkerchiefs were environmentally superior, but the study did not define a use based functional unit and also assumed an exceptionally long life of the handkerchief (520 washes) compared to previously published LCAs on textile products (50 washes) (Laursen et al., 2007; Collins and Aumonier, 2002)
Nose blow frequency can vary considerably between periods of respiratory illness day to day sneezes. Luckily medical investigations on transmission and treatment of the common cold help shield light on the frequency of nose blows during sickness for a study on the frequency transmission of chino virus cold by aerosols; Dick et al., (2000) Counted the number of times 12 participants blew their nose in a 12 hour study period in 4 separate experiments. During colds, given the high frequency of nose blowing, the handkerchief will be used more extensively. During respiratory illness, I have assumed that the average American will blow his nose 8 times per handkerchief, in proportion to their relative surface areas. Using these relationship 112 handkerchiefs is used during illness as part of the functional unit.
Handkerchiefs often used in wiping face, closing mouth and nose when responding to reflex action or activities, therefore to enumerate the use of handkerchief, it can be done by using microscopic cell count and viable cell count. Microbes on daily used handkerchief can be as a result of the sterile handkerchief gotten in contact with the skin during reflex or involuntary action like sweat, coughing, sneezing, in these process microorganisms are transferred in large numbers to the handkerchief.