When you flush the toilet, do you close the lid? If you don’t, you are likely releasing a “toilet plume” into the air — which is essentially an aerosol spray filled with bacteria.
All that bubbling, swirling and splashingcan aerosolize fecal waste, sending tiny particles airborne.
Astudy on hospital bathroomsfound that the amount of those particles spiked after a toilet was flushed, and the concentration in the air remained high 30 minutes later.
Harpic, a company based in the United Kingdom that makes toilet cleaning products, said a recent poll of 2,000 adults in the UK revealed 55% of people do not close the toilet lid before they flush. The poll is part of the company’s #CloseTheLid campaign.
Toilet bowl water can remain contaminated for several flushes after becoming exposed to harmful pathogens. A 2000 study revealed some particles produced by flushing the toilet can reach the lower respiratory tract, which could cause an infection.
“Contaminated toilets have been clearly shown to produce large droplet and droplet nuclei bioaerosols during flushing, and research suggests that this toilet plume could play an important role in the transmission of infectious diseases for which the pathogen is shed in feces or vomit,” according to research from the American Journal of Infection Control.
A study published on June 16 simulated toilet plumes from flushing and found thata large number of particles rose above the toilet seatand lingered in the air.
Researchers have found that the new coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2, can be shed in feces for up to a monthafter the illness. That’s longer than in respiratory samples, though how much of that time the virus could be causing infections and whether the virus has infected humans through fecal wasteisn’t yet known.
The poll and #CloseTheLid campaign.
THE CONVERSATION and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FAQs
Microbiologist Charles Gerba and his research team at the University of Arizona determined there's little difference whether you leave the lid up or down. Closing the lid on a residential toilet does not prevent the spread of viral particles from the powerful whoosh of a flushed toilet.
Do poop particles go in the air when you flush the toilet? ›
Studies have shown that particles spread in the air over a 3-metre radius when you flush the toilet. In the majority of public bathrooms, you are not only breathing in poo and wee particles that are not your own, but also sometimes vomit and high levels of mould spores.
What happens when you flush a toilet with poop in it? ›
The sewerage system pumps the sewage to a treatment plant where it is processed and treated to remove any contaminants. Once treated, the resulting effluent is released back out into waterways, where it continues its journey through the water cycle.
Why you should close the toilet before you flush? ›
“All that air when you flush goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses that are in the toilet bowl out of it.” Previous research has shown that shutting the lid reduced the spread of germs, but Gerba noted that these studies focused on larger viral particles.
How long do poop particles stay in the air after flushing? ›
During the experiment, airborne particles ejected from the toilet traveled at speeds of up to 6.6 feet per second and reached 4.9 feet above the toilet within eight seconds, the scientists found. And, once airborne, smaller particles measuring less than 5 microns hung in the air for more than a minute.
Do you breathe in poop particles when you fart? ›
All three of those are commonly spread myths. It has no medical side effects because flatus only contains gas. There shouldn't be any fecal particles in it.
Can breathing in poop particles make you sick? ›
While toilet plume probably won't make you sick, you should still practice good toilet hygiene. Fewer poop particles all over your bathroom is a nice thing, even if it has no bearing on your health.
Should you flush the toilet after peeing? ›
One of the most significant dangers of not flushing after urination is the potential for damage to your toilet. Here's how it happens: Mineral Buildup: Urine contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can form deposits on the porcelain surface of your toilet bowl over time.
What is a courtesy flush? ›
A courtesy flush is flushing the toilet mid-business in hopes that its odor doesn't linger for anyone else to catch a whiff of because nothing says friendship like leaving your, um, aroma for the next person.
Why does poop come back after flushing? ›
A clog somewhere in the plumbing system is the most common cause of toilet backups. If you notice problems with only one toilet, and all other drains in the house appear to be fine, a local clog is the likely culprit. 2. The sewer line is blocked or damaged.
The kinds of bacteria they included can often be found in the human intestines, then come out in poop or vomit and make you sick when ingested. One study found that E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting, lingered in the air for up to four to six hours after flushing.
Where does the poop go after you flush on a plane? ›
The truck plugs a hose into the airplane's waste tank valve and removes all of the waste into the tank on the back of the truck. The truck then takes the waste to a special area at the airport reserved for the waste from all aeroplanes, and the toilet waste is emptied into the sewer system for that airport.
How long do poop particles stay on surfaces? ›
The feces and vomit of infected people can contain high concentrations of pathogens, many of which are known to survive on surfaces for weeks or months, and toilets may continue to produce contaminated toilet plumes over multiple successive flushes.
Where does poop sewage go? ›
When the wastewater flushed from your toilet or drained from your household sinks, washing machine, or dishwasher leaves your home, it flows through your community's sanitary sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility.
