Electric hand dryers shoot out air to keep our hands free of water after washing up – simple and effective. Yet however, inside the machine lie loads of different microbes and bacteria that are effectively transmitted to our recently cleaned hands. For proof, look no further than what Californian scientist Nichole Ward recently posted for all to see on Instagram.
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The experiment
The young microbiologist made her way to a public washroom, opened up one of these electric hand dryers and took a small sample on the inside. She took the sample to the lab for analysis and after viewing the results of that small sample, she took to the Internet to post a photo and warn people about what’s been hiding in these machines found in most public washrooms: ‘These are several strains of possible pathogenic fungi and bacteria that you’re swirling around your hands, and you think you’re walking out with clean hands’.
The results
After all your efforts to clean your hands after spending some time on the toilet, you may actually be doing more damage than good by using these machines. Next time, maybe opt for air drying or paper towel instead of risking the addition of hundreds of dangerous microorganisms to your hands.
