China     

Using hand dryers found to increase bacteria

China.org.cn, July 3, 2015

• Drying your hands with a hand dryer after washing them could increase bacteria and make your hands dirtier, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Beijing.

  Drying your hands with a hand dryer after washing them could increase bacteria and make your hands dirtier, according to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control in Beijing.

  Journalists from a Beijing local newspaper carried out an experiment: they put one hand under a hand dryer while letting the other one dry naturally after washing them.

  The results showed that the bacteria on the hand dried using the hand dryer increased by around 67 percent. In contrast, the bacteria on the naturally-dried hand only increased by 28 percent.

  Experts from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control explained that hand dryers are always installed in wet areas next to restrooms, where bacteria can breed easily. In addition, the air blown out of the hand dryers is not hot enough to kill the bacteria.

  In some fast food restaurants, like McDonald's and KFC, the staff only clean the outside parts of the hand dryers each day, but never open them up to clean the inside parts.

  Experts warned that in order to keep your hands clean, it is better to dry them naturally after washing them. Washing your hands in the correct way is more important, because the number of bacteria will increase 44 times if you do not wash your hands carefully and correctly.

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved