ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Public toilets should be better ventilated and incorporate antimicrobial surfaces, according to a new Loughborough University study.

These measures would help to mitigate the effects of germs released into the area after flushing, claims study lead Elizabeth Paddy.

The study team built an indoor toilet cubicle in a microbiological laboratory to replicate the type of toilet commonly found in healthcare or hospitality environments. They then assessed the bioaerosol concentrations produced after flushing and looked at how quickly these were dispersed.

Jet air dryers were excluded from the study. "The powerful airflow caused by these dryers play a huge part in dispersing bioaerosols during the cleaning process, so including them would have made it impossible to accurately measure what pathogens are caused by the flushing toilet," said Paddy.

Researchers found the bioaerosol concentrations surged to their highest levels post-flush and then diminished as mechanical ventilation and natural dispersal mechanisms took effect. Flushing also led to temporary humidity fluctuations, underlining the importance of mechanical ventilation to improve air quality and reduce humidity to safe levels.

The study revealed that closing the lid had no significant impact on bioaerosol concentrations. "Lifting the lid during subsequent toilet use can disrupt the contained bioaerosols, particularly in toilets with high flushing energies," said Paddy. "Lid positioning alone is not an effective means of reducing bioaerosol levels."

Enhanced ventilation systems and rigorous cleaning protocols could help to mitigate the risks, says Paddy. "Public toilets are everywhere and one of the main places where people can catch infections, so I think it's important that policymakers, public health officials, facility managers and other relevant government stakeholders take note," she said.

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