WORLDWIDE — Brace yourselves. A new study concludes that the dryers spread fecal matter onto the hands of those who use them.
University of Connecticut scientists claim that hand dryers help further spread fecal matter that's already in the air.
The study entitled "Deposition of Bacteria and Bacterial Spores by Bathroom Hot-Air Hand Dryers" found that after a toilet is flushed, the fecal particles in the air land on the dryer, which are then transferred to you via your hot, blown dryer air.
"These results indicate that many kinds of bacteria, including potential pathogens and spores, can be deposited on hands exposed to bathroom hand dryers and that spores could be dispersed throughout buildings and deposited on hands by hand dryers," according to the study.
Worth noting, hot air hand dryers that did not have HEPA (High efficiency particulate air) filters were not included in this study.