There was a peer-reviewed report published in the journal for Applied and Environmental Microbiology that studied the amount of bacteria that was blown from hand dryers in 36 public restrooms at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. The sample from the study concluded that as many as 60 colonies of bacteria were blown from a hand dryer in just 30-seconds. A number of those bacteria were linked to fecal and human bacteria, even bacteria known to cause serious infections.
Why YSK: So that you are informed for your own health, hygiene, and wellness and to prevent further spread of more harmful bacteria.
Citation & Sources: “Deposition of Bacteria and Bacterial Spores by Bathroom Hot-Air Hand Dryers” (April 2018), Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Paid for by the paper towel industry which was in response to the hand dryer industry putting out it’s own paid study about how paper towels just spread fecal matter around your hands. It’s all shit no matter how you spread it.
I can’t remember where I saw this so take it with a grain of salt… But I remember that the set of studies to come out on the sanitary condition of air dryers was funded by the paper towel industry. Not that the studies aren’t correct or anything, but I do think that it’s something to consider.
Yup, the air blower companies have also funded anti-paper towel studies. It’s somewhat funny.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/apr/25/hand-dryers-paper-towels-hygiene-dyson-airblade
You should also know that when they test for fecal matter they aren’t looking for actual pieces of poo they are looking for bacteria that are present in poo. You will find those bacteria just about everywhere
I heard once that the only way to stay properly clean is to cover yourself in mountain dew.
I’m pretty sure that regardless of where you are or what you’re doing, fecal matter is getting blown on your hands. Mythbusters tested this out once by putting tooth brushes all over their shop and then culturing the bacteria from them. IIRC the ones that were in the bathroom had the least amount of fecal matter.
If the blower is blowing fecal matter then it would also be settling all over the paper towels. Issue is placement not anything to do with the blowers.
Almost every public restroom I’ve ever been in has the paper towels and toilet paper locked in a closed dispenser unit.
oh those are definitely not sealed or protected from the air in the bathroom anymoreso than a hand dryer is. Not to mention many paper product replacements are stored elsewhere in or at least near the same bathroom
Bathrooms should just have a unisex hand washing station away from the toilets. May not work well for older buildings but new developments can implement that easier
i like this idea a lot and perhaps people would wash their hands more if the fact that walking past them and not doing so would broadcast the very fact they dont wash their hands
There is a bar/arcade near me that has their sinks right outside both bathrooms in full view of all the patrons, and I think it would definitely encourage people to wash their hands since everyone can see you leave the restroom, especially considering it’s a place where people are touching everything
