Where do bacteria hide?
Bacteria are everywhere, even where you least expect them to be.
As you know, bacteria are pretty much everywhere. And that’s one of the reasons why it is very important to have good hand washing and drying habits. Almost every single thing we lay our hands on in a given day is more or less covered in germs. Micro-organisms are not only found in public washrooms… but their precise location could surprise you.
High-performance dryer… chock-full of bacteria!
According to a study by the University of Westminster, bacterial contamination of high-performance air jet dryers is high. Sixteen hand dryers in men’s and women’s public restrooms of a mainline London railway station were checked at various times and on different days. Bacteria were detected on inner surfaces and even in air jets. Most bacteria were found on the bottom of the hand drying chamber and these bacteria were in part potential pathogens for the population.
Where is the highest concentration of bacteria?
Try to guess where most of the harmful germs are hiding in your house. No, it’s neither the toilet seat nor the bathroom floor. It’s actually in the kitchen! First place goes to the sink - the dish towel and sponge take second place.
A study measured the presence of coliform bacteria on various surfaces in public restrooms:
| Surface – Frequency (%) of coliform bacteria detection | |
|---|---|
| Floor in front of toilet | 64 % |
| Sink | 61 % |
| Outer surface of sanitary napkin bin | 40 % |
| Inner surface of urinal | 30 % |
| Top of toilet seat | 20 % |
| Faucet | 15 % |
| Wall behind toilet | 9 % |
| Toilet flush handle | 6 % |
| Door handle | 4 % |
> How to wash and dry your hands
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, nearly 80% of common infectious diseases such as the flu or a cold - including the AH1N1 flu - are spread through hand contact. Keep reading
> Cascades and the environment:
Cascades’ environmental commitment, supported by over 45 years of recycling experience and ongoing research and development. Keep reading
See recommendations by the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec 
