Researchers at the University of Connecticut published a study which says that hand dryers draw in “potentially infectious microbes” and spread them around when activated. Even the low-powered hand dryers used in the study were prone to gathering fecal material and bacteria from the air and blasting them on users.
What? How? Flushing toilets with lids up sends fecal material spaying into the air and then the poop particles are sucked in and pushed out by active dryers. Hand dryers with HEPA filters CAN reduce the intake of harmful particle but it doesn’t eliminate them completely.
The best environment for bacteria to thrive? Moist hands and skin. Many public restrooms don’t offer paper towels as an alternative.
Talk about a shit show?!
(Photos, Wikimedia Commons; via Nerdist)