A study has found that high-powered jet-air and warm-air hand dryers can spread bacteria in public restrooms. Airborne germ counts were 27 times higher around jet air dryers in comparison with the air around paper towel dispensers, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
The study shows that both jet and warm- air hand dryers spread bacteria into the air and onto users and those nearby.
To mimic hands that have been poorly washed, the researchers contaminated hands with a harmless type of bacteria not normally found in public bathrooms.
Subsequent detection of the Lactobacillus in the air proved that it must have come from the hands during drying.
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