Hot-air hand dryers full of bacteria

According to Rare Life and researchers at The University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University, it may be important to think twice before drying hands in public restrooms. The automated dryers could be spreading unwanted germs.

Rare Life reports the studies published by The American Society for Microbiology shows some dirty truths. Researchers placed Petri dishes under hand dryers for thirty-second and for two minutes. The ones exposed for thirty seconds grew over 250 colonies of bacteria. This is compared to the one colony of bacteria growing on dishes exposed for two minutes.

Researchers confirmed the hand dryers were sucking up bacteria from the air inside bathrooms, and depositing it onto people’s hands.

Scientists say the bacteria in the air comes from a fine mist that forms when toilets are flushed. The study advises using paper towels as a hygienic way to dry hands.