Oddly enough, scientists have come up with a way to really see how bacteria and other particles spread while using a bathroom. They set up green laser beams over a toilet without a lid, positioned cameras a few feet away, dimmed the lights, and flushed. The illuminated particles came out spraying like a rocket. Their eerie green videos show how fast and far contamination flies in public bathrooms, possibly putting their users at risk of getting sick.
Based on these findings, bathroom creators may want to adjust their designs or install better ventilation or disinfection systems to prevent the spread of germs. Surely, you’re wondering if closing the lid is enough. Well, the American Institute of Physics in 2021 found that it helps to decrease the spread of bacteria but doesn’t eliminate them completely. Droplets can still escape between the cover and the seat.
Ironically, the goal of the toilet is to get rid of waste, but it’s also doing the opposite—spraying contaminated particles on our bathroom walls and ceilings, including our phones. It’s something we can’t see with our naked eyes, so it’s easy to think that it doesn’t exist. So next time you scroll through social media on the toilet, remember to close the lid and wash your hands so that you can ensure your bathroom remains a lot less threatening, unlike the ones on this list.
