Are Hand Dryers In Public Washrooms Harmful To Health?

Public washrooms carry a lot of bacteria and germs, no matter how clean it may look. This is a known fact. But did you know that the hand dryers we use in these restrooms are not as safe as we think they are? Yes, you read that right. Hand dryers in public washrooms may be harming your health secretly. Are you interested to know more? Today, we will tell you all about it. 

To get an expert view on this, we reached out to Dr Pooja Pillai, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

Are Hand Dryers In Public Washrooms Safe?

We often don’t give much thought to some of the minute details of our washroom practices. Earlier, we told you about the importance of flushing with the toilet seat down. Similarly, today we will tell you why it is crucial to be careful about using hand dryers in public washrooms. Are they even sanitary? We ask our expert.

hand dryer 1

“Using hand dryers in public washrooms is not usually harmful for healthy people, but there are some hygiene concerns. Studies show that some air dryers can spread tiny water droplets and germs into the air, especially if hands were not washed properly before drying. The fast air flow may blow bacteria around the washroom and onto nearby surfaces. However, the main risk comes from poor handwashing, not the dryer itself. If hands are cleaned well with soap for at least 20 seconds, the risk becomes much lower,” explains Dr Pillai.

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What Study On Safety Of Hand Dryers Discovered 

As per a study from researchers at the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University, hot-air hand dryers in public restrooms may be sucking up bacteria from the air. It further added that they might be dumping them on the newly washed hands of unsuspecting patrons.

Scientists tested this theory by exposing petri dishes to bathroom air under different conditions. Then they took them back to the microbiology lab to look for bacterial growth. The dishes which were exposed to bathroom air for two minutes with the hand dryers off grew one colony of bacteria, or none at all. But petri dishes exposed to hot air from a bathroom hand dryer for 30 seconds grew up to 254 colonies of bacteria (though most had from 18 to 60 colonies of bacteria).

hand dryer 2

Did the bacteria multiply inside the hand dryers, or were they being pulled in from the air inside the bathroom? To find this answer, researchers attached high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to the dryers. This was meant to eliminate most of the bacteria from the air passing through the dryer. When the dishes were exposed to air from the hand dryers again, the quantity of bacteria in the dishes had fallen by 75%. Thus, the study concluded that most of the bacterial splatter from the hand dryers had been accumulated from the washroom air itself.

Tips To Dry Hands In Public Washrooms Safely

While using hand dryers in public washrooms, one can follow certain safety measures. Dr Pillar shares them for us: 

• To reduce risk, wash your hands properly with soap and water before using any drying method.
• If available, you may choose paper towels, as they can help remove remaining germs and reduce spread.
• Avoid touching the dryer surface and keep some distance from others while drying.
• In crowded or poorly maintained washrooms, carrying a small personal hand sanitiser can add extra protection.
• Good hand hygiene is more important than the drying method itself in preventing infections.

hand dryer 3

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following tips to wash hands safely:

• Use warm or cold water.
• Wet your hands, then turn off the tap, then apply soap.
• Lather well, washing the backs of your hands, between your fingers and beneath your nails.
• Wash for at least 20 seconds — about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday.”
• Rinse well under clean, running water.
• Dry hands with a clean towel or air dry.

ALSO READ- Toilet Flush Germs on Your Toothbrush? Here’s How to Keep It Safe and Hygienic

The Final Word

Hand dryers in public washrooms can spread tiny water droplets and germs into the air, especially if hands were not washed properly before drying. The main risk comes from poor handwashing, not the dryer itself. If hands are cleaned well with soap for at least 20 seconds, the risk becomes much lower.

(Note: The feature image has been created using NanoBanana)