The Truth About Preventing Virus Spread in the Bathroom: Research and Recommendations for Daily Health

2024-01-26 22:00:00

daily health

Closing the toilet lid doesn’t help… What is the only way to prevent the spread of a ‘virus’ in the bathroom?

Reporter Lee Hae-na | Intern reporter Jeong Jun-yeop

Entered 2024/01/27 07:00

Research has shown that closing the toilet lid and flushing is effective in preventing the spread of germs, but does not prevent the spread of viruses. / Photo = Getty Image Bank Research has shown that closing the toilet lid and flushing is difficult to prevent the spread of virus particles. came out.

On the 25th, a research team from the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Arizona reported that they found the same amount of microscopic virus particles whether the toilet lid was raised or lowered when flushing.

The research team sprayed various virus particles that are harmless to the human body into the toilet and measured the level of contamination on the toilet and surfaces near the toilet one minute following flushing. As a result of the study, there was no significant difference in the level of virus contamination between pouring water with the lid open and pouring water with the lid closed.

Charles Gerba, a professor of environmental science at the University of Arizona who led the study, said, “The results show that closing the toilet lid does not have a meaningful effect on preventing the spread of virus particles. All the air released when flushing moves somewhere, and the viruses in the toilet go somewhere.” “We transport it outside,” he said.

However, closing the toilet lid and flushing was still effective in reducing the spread of bacteria. The size of bacteria is usually 1 to 5㎛ (micrometer), while viruses are much smaller than bacteria at 30 to 700㎚ (nanometer, one billionth of a meter).

Additionally, according to this study, toilets cleaned with a toilet brush and hydrochloric acid disinfectant were less contaminated than toilets cleaned with a toilet brush alone. When a toilet brush and disinfectant were used together, virus contamination of the toilet was reduced by nearly 100%, and virus contamination of the toilet brush was reduced by regarding 98%. Additionally, cleaning with a disinfectant has been shown to reduce contamination not only around the toilet but also around the toilet floor, toilet brush box, etc.

“Our study highlights the importance of regular disinfection of toilets to reduce contamination and prevent the spread of viruses,” said Professor Gerba. “Especially if a household member has diarrhea: toilet seats, toilet bowls and other frequently touched bathroom surfaces. “It is recommended to disinfect twice a day,” he said.

The research team stated that the only way to reduce the spread of viral pathogens such as norovirus is to disinfect toilets and surrounding floors.

This study was recently published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

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