Corona current
Why you should never take your mask off in public toilets
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A US research team is now warning of aerosols in public toilets, as there is also a risk of corona transmission there.
We’ve been on the road for a while, doing errands and suddenly the bladder squeezes. Fortunately, public toilets are available in shopping centers or at many large supermarkets. After we have been wearing the mouth and nose protection for hours, we can take it off in the toilet cubicle, right? Not correct! This is exactly what an American research team is now warning of.
High levels of aerosol in public toilets
Aerosols are the main way the coronavirus is transmitted. We exhale these or are released when we cough or sneeze. Sars-CoV-2 virus particles have also already been found in the urine and stool, which is why urine-based transmission cannot be ruled out.
A new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, which was published in the journal “Physics of Fluids”, has now shown that the Aerosol values increase extremely after flushing toilets or urinals. A large number of pathogens are often found in standing water, urine, or stool. Then, by the pressure of the rinse countless droplets whirled into the air. If these droplets contain microorganisms such as the coronavirus, there is a significant risk of infection.
Corona risk loo
For the study, the researchers installed particle counters at different heights above toilets and urinals to measure the droplets. Three hours and 100 flushes later, the team noticed a “significant increase in the measured aerosol values in the area, with the total number of droplets generated in each flushing attempt in the tens of thousands,” says researcher Siddhartha Verma.
Every flush, whether toilet or urinal, produced a large amount of aerosols that were smaller than three micrometers. That set “represent a considerable risk of transmission if the excretory products contain disease carriers”Verma explains further. This is mainly due to their small size – this allows them to float in the air for a very long time (several hours). A closed toilet lid reduces the number of droplets, but does not prevent them.
To make matters worse, that public toilets are usually quite cramped and not well ventilated. Manhar Dhanak, who was involved in the study, suggests that adequate ventilation would, however, help “prevent the accumulation of aerosols in high-traffic areas such as public toilets.” For now, you should also leave the mask on in the public toilet cubicle.
Sources used: Spektrum.de, heilpraxis.net, netdoktor.de