Ewww. Hand-dryers spread 27 times more bacteria than towels

Latest generation of ‘jet-air’ dryers far worse for spreading germs than ‘warm-air’ models

The bacterial counts from jet-air dryers were 4.5  times higher than around warm-air dryers, but 27 times higher compared with the air circulating in the bathroom when paper towels were used

The bacterial counts from jet-air dryers were 4.5 times higher than around warm-air dryers, but 27 times higher compared with the air circulating in the bathroom when paper towels were used

Modern electric hand-dryers spread much more bacteria in public toilets than handtowels, according to British researchers. The University of Leeds team found the latest generation of “jet-air” dryers are far worse for spreading germs than the older, less-powerful “warm-air” models.

The researchers carried out detailed tests where they placed some harmless Lactobacillus bacteria on the hands of volunteers in public bathrooms, who then washed their hands. Later, they collected air samples to measure the germ count around the hand-dryers and the paper-towel rolls used by other volunteers to test the difference.

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