Holistic Health
The loo dilemma
Should we use paper towels or hand dryers ?
In one of his hilarious rants , Big Bang Theory sitcom character Sheldon Cooper lectures his friends about the health risks of using hot air blowers to dry hands in public restrooms , calling them incubators of bacteria . While in the widely popular comedy show Sheldon is well known for making a big fuss about trivial matters , in this case he might have been on to something .
Some research has found that electric hand dryers can spread germs and potentially reduce the benefits of hand washing , an indispensable practice for minimising the spread of infectious diseases like in�uen�a and C��I�-�� .
“ We often say handwashing is the key to preventing the spread of illness , � �r �aniel Allan , a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic , said on the clinic ’ s website . “ But wet hands increase the risk of transmitting bacteria , so drying is an equally important step in prevention .”
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings reviewed the research on the hygiene of different handdrying methods and concluded that , “ from a hygiene standpoint , paper towels are superior to air dryers ” and “ should be recommended in locations where hygiene is paramount , such as hospitals and clinics ” because they remove bacteria effectively . But the authors acknowledged they found little agreement on the effectiveness of electric air dryers .
Though several other studies have also found that electric dryers can spread germs , critics point out some of them were funded by the paper towel industry . In addition , other research funded by �yson , one of the biggest producers of electric hand dryers , reached the opposite conclusion — the company ’ s jet air dryer left less bacteria on the hands of the study participants than paper towels .
�espite the lack of firm evidence to settle the issue , some experts stress that washing hands properly is paramount and could make the choice between toilet paper and dryers less relevant . “ Good hand washing practice is the key issue for me here above anything else ,” said Catherine Makison Booth , a technical officer in biosafety and biosecurity at the �orld Health �rgani�ation , according to �o� .
Unfortunately , good hand washing practices are hardly the norm in many public restrooms , with surveys suggesting that many people don ’ t wash their hands properly . “ They don ’ t use soap , just a bit of water ,” Keith Redway , Emeritus Fellow at the University of �estminster and author of several pro-towel studies , told the Guardian . If they then use an electric hand dryer , “ whatever ’ s left on their hands , which could be fecal material if they haven ’ t washed them properly , is blown everywhere .”
The bottom line is , when using a public restroom , wash your hands thoroughly as this will help reduce the spread of infectious diseases no matter how you dry your hands .
Washing hands properly is paramount and could make the choice between toilet paper and dryers less relevant
28 ISSUE 6 | 2023 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com