Is your car's interior making you sick?

BIRMINGHAM, England, June 18 (UPI) -- The interior of your car could be hazardous to your health, a British study has found.

Researchers said tests of a randomly selected car revealed germs that can cause food poisoning, vomiting and skin infections, The Daily Telegraph reported.

"People would be horrified at the prospect of eating from a toilet seat; however they ought to be aware that eating from a contaminated dashboard may represent the same health hazards," said Anthony Hilton, a researcher at Aston University in Birmingham, England.

Swabs from the car, used by a couple and their two children, revealed the bacteria Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus on the steering wheel, gearshift and door handles, the study said.

Bacteria can subsist on crumbs, especially in warmer weather, so thorough cleaning is essential to keeping your vehicle's interior healthy, Hilton said.

Staphylococcal infections, which are contagious, can cause skin infections and food poisoning. Bacillus cereus can cause food poisoning, severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

"Those who eat in their car should treat it as an extension of their home and maintain the same levels of hygiene as they would in their dining room," Hilton said.