A team from Asan Medical Center in South Korea conducted a study to determine the extent of germ spread when flushing a toilet with the lid up, and the results are alarming.
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According to publications V New Atlas, Scientists have created a special automatic flushing device that operates only when the toilet lid is closed. To assess the spread of germs after flushing, the researchers installed the device on four hospital toilets, and used the same number as a control group without the device. In addition, the scientists placed 8 agar plates to cultivate microorganisms on top, front, sides and behind toilet tanks.
During the experiment, each toilet was flushed once. The airborne particles were given an hour and a half to settle on the surfaces of the agar plates, then incubated for two days, after which the scientists assessed which bacterial colonies had grown. More than twice as many bacterial colonies, 14 versus six, were found on surfaces around toilets that did not have an automatic flush feature when the lid was closed.
Korean experts emphasized the importance of closing the toilet lid to reduce contamination of surfaces in restrooms. The researchers intend to place their devices on all toilets in the hospital, along with an automatic ultraviolet disinfectant, to reduce the likelihood of the spread of infections.
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2024-04-12 14:12:15
