Clemson Study: Beer Pong Can Cause Serious Illnesses

Beer pong players have long known that hangovers may result from playing the popular party game.

But research from Clemson University has found that players could walk away from the game with some serious illnesses.

Students playing beer pong toss the pingpong balls into cups of beer, then down the beers.

Clemson students taking part in the university's Creative Inquiry program last fall tested pingpong balls used in beer pong games across campus, according to The Associated Press.

After switching out the pingpong balls being used for clean ones, students tested the balls and found them teeming with bacteria, including salmonella, listeria, e. Coli and staph.

The highest levels of bacteria were found on balls that were being used in outdoor beer pong games.

The bacteria doesn't just stay on the balls – the students found high levels of bacteria transferring from the ball to the beer itself.

While most players don't come down sick after playing the game, food science professor Paul Dawson told the Associated Press there is a risk.

"Ninety percent of bacteria are probably harmless, but by virtue of sheer numbers, you're taking a chance of getting sick," he said.