A biologist has cautioned that using public bathroom hand dryers may have negative effects rather than positive ones. It is crucial to thoroughly wash hands with soap after using a public restroom to eliminate any bacteria left behind, reducing the potential spread of diseases and viruses and promoting good hygiene.
However, choosing to use a hand dryer immediately after washing hands could counteract the cleanliness achieved. Laura González, a biologist who frequently shares advice on social media, informed her TikTok followers that using a public bathroom hand dryer could be detrimental.
In a TikTok video initially in Spanish, she explained, “Have you ever dried your hands with a hand dryer in a public restroom? Well, you might reconsider after hearing this. When people use public restrooms, they often do not close the lid when flushing the toilet. This results in bacteria and microorganisms being dispersed in the air. And what do you think happens when you use a hand dryer? It blows that contaminated air onto your freshly washed hands, essentially undoing the handwashing process.”
Furthermore, a study conducted by the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University in the USA revealed that exposing a petri dish to bathroom air under various conditions showed a significant growth of bacteria colonies when a hand dryer was used. The study suggested that hand dryers draw bacteria from the bathroom air and transfer it to the hands of users.
If the thought of using a hand dryer in a public restroom is off-putting, there are alternative methods to maintain clean and bacteria-free hands. Laura recommended using paper towels for drying hands as it efficiently removes moisture, minimizes the transfer of microorganisms, and allows for touching surfaces like taps, doors, and switches without direct contact.
In conclusion, avoiding hand dryers and opting for paper towels after washing hands is considered a more hygienic choice based on scientific findings.
