Do your toilets make you sick?
October 1st 2003 Every year thousands of us are struck down by stomach upsets and food poisoning. In fact they are now among the most common causes of illnesses. When 50% of men and 25% of women still dont wash their hands after using the toilet it is small wonder that stomach bugs are so easily passed on. So the question has to be asked Do your toilets make you sick?.
Some types of salmonella, E-coli and campylobacter bacteria can survive in toilets for up to eight days, longer than the average stomach upset. Fuelled by damp environments and high usage, public and staff toilets are their biggest allies. Add to that warm air dryers and they have all they need to make stomach bugs feel at home, says Peter Webster, managing dirctor at Initial.
Good hygiene and hand washing are vital to combat the germs because once in your toilet, bacteria find it easier to get back out than youd think. During normal use toilets develop a film above and below the waterline called a biofilm, created by the bacteria and in which they breed. Every time a toilet is flushed a sneeze effect or fine mist is created which sees germs propelled back out of the pan and into the atmosphere. Even with a closed lid, germs can be detected at head height above the toilet.
From here they can be inhaled, they are deposited on the toilet seat, toilet flush handle, cubicle floor and even the toilet roll. From there it is only a matter of time before they arr picked up and spread all over the washroom and, in the case of those not washing their hands, beyond.
Good hygiene is vital to combat the sneeze effect. Both in the toilet and by those using it. Washing hands with soap and drying them thoroughly with a towel is essential to help stop the spread of illness (1000 times as many germs spread from damp hands than dry hands). Washing your hands after using the toilet greatly reduces the number of bacteria on them by about 80%. In fact 1/3 of infectious diseases could be eliminated by proper hand washing. Walking out of the toilet without washing your hands should be as socially unacceptable as sneezing without putting your hand or handkerchief in front of your face. More articles from Rentokil Initial Services Ltd: | 
