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http://aem.asm.org/content/84/8/e00044-18.abstract
Hot-air hand dryers in multiple men's and women's bathrooms in three basic science research areas in an academic health center were screened for their deposition on plates of (i) total bacteria, some of which were identified, and (ii) a kanamycin-resistant Bacillus subtilis strain, PS533, spores of which are produced in large amounts in one basic science research laboratory.
Plates exposed to hand dryer air for 30 s averaged 18 to 60 colonies/plate; but interior hand dryer nozzle surfaces had minimal bacterial levels, plates exposed to bathroom air for 2 min with hand dryers off averaged ≤1 colony, and plates exposed to bathroom air moved by a small fan for 20 min had averages of 15 and 12 colonies/plate in two buildings tested.
Retrofitting hand dryers with HEPA filters reduced bacterial deposition by hand dryers ∼4-fold, and potential human pathogens were recovered from plates exposed to hand dryer air whether or not a HEPA filter was present and from bathroom air moved by a small fan. Spore-forming colonies, identified as B. subtilis PS533, averaged ∼2.5 to 5% of bacteria deposited by hand dryers throughout the basic research areas examined regardless of distance from the spore-forming laboratory, and these were almost certainly deposited as spores. Comparable results were obtained when bathroom air was sampled for spores.
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.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Appalbarry on Wednesday April 18 2018, @01:58AM (6 children)
Going back thirty or forty years ago, when Dyson was still in knee pants, there was a great rivalry between companies selling paper towels for washrooms, and the ones selling cloth roller towels - the ones with a big U loop below the cabinet. And of course, hot air blower companies.
The cloth towel companies had "Research" showing that paper "towel litter" was a health hazard.
The paper towel companies had "Research" showing that damp cloth towels were a health hazard.
And they both had "Research" showing that blasting wet germy air all around the room was the biggest health hazard.
Of course every woman will tell you that men never wash their hands on any case. Which is why you shouldn't eat the peanuts in the bowl at your local bar.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday April 18 2018, @02:38AM (5 children)
Now what would be interesting is if they did a study on whether you ended up with more germs on your hands from using an air drier vs. paper towel vs. not washing your hands at all. Plates, however, are not remotely a valid surrogate for human hands. Especially sterile plates.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 18 2018, @07:46AM
I'm actually surprised with these low numbers that they found. 60 colonies on a plate in the worst case. If you would just press your hands on a plate you would easily get more colonies. These are the kinds of experiments that you perform during your microbiology laboratory education.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Wednesday April 18 2018, @03:23PM (3 children)
Well, the winner would depend on who is funding the study.
I tried to find a CDC study on this, but the best I can find is a bunch of articles saying any drying is better than nothing, wet hands spread bacteria more than dry ones. But that is kind of obvious.
https://www.cleanlink.com/sm/article/CDC-Says-Hand-Drying-Is-Essential--16136 [cleanlink.com]
One quote said something like: Paper towels dry faster, so people are more likely to get a thorough drying, which results in less contamination.
https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/21/11479038/dyson-hand-dryer-hygiene-paper-towel-debate [theverge.com]
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Reziac on Thursday April 19 2018, @03:14AM (2 children)
Also, there's some value in a paper towel's scraping action.
I recall a study done on surgical scrubbing, that found for bacterial elimination the most important part wasn't the soap, or the washing, but the physical scraping action of the surgical-scrub-brush.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Thursday April 19 2018, @02:28PM (1 child)
I love lava soap. After doing some outdoor work or anything involving engines or grease. Just scrub of whatever layer of skin has the oil in it.
Boom, all clean. Granted, I don't do work with my hands terribly often, otherwise this would become ineffective.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Thursday April 19 2018, @08:59PM
My fave soap too -- even if you're not scrubbing off a layer, it's just good soap.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.