Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Background

It is widely promoted that one must wash their hands after visiting the restroom. It is also necessary to dry one’s hands after washing them, because wet surface serves as the nurturing environment for bacteria. To make the hand drying process faster warm air and jet air hand dryers were placed in the restrooms all around the world.

They are believed to be more efficient than paper towel dispensers, because using hand dryers one does not have to touch anything in the room. Many contemporary researchers note that the warm air coming from the hand dryers is far from being sterile and may serve as the perfect environment for airborne bacteria.

Research question

The effectiveness of hand dryers over paper towels in reference to the maintenance of sanitary conditions

Hypothesis

Towel dispensers may be old-fashioned, but they are much safer in relation to airborne bacteria spreading.

Prediction

Hand dryers tend to collect bacteria and then stream them on people’s hands with the flow of warm hair.

Source

PubMed Heath website.

Data

The research involved warm air and jet air hand dryers along with paper towels. Contaminated gloves covered in lactobacilli bacteria solution were dried with each of the devices. Afterwards, other participants used the dryers, and the number of bacteria on their hands afterwards was measured in close proximity of the dryers and one meter away.

The results of the research measured that the count of bacteria spread by the jet air dryers (70.7 colony forming units) was four and a half times higher than the one of warm air dryer (15.7) and twenty seven times higher than that of paper towels (2.6) (Air dryers ‘blown away’ by paper towels in germ tests par. 24).

Air dryers blown away by paper towels in germ tests

The results measured one meter away of the dryers were similar and showed 89.7 colony forming units for jet air dryer, 18.7 – for warm air dryer and 2.2 for paper towels (Air dryers ‘blown away’ by paper towels in germ tests par. 25). The research also showed that the distribution of bacteria does not hit only hands, but the whole upper body, and bacteria can be still in the air fifteen minutes later the drying procedures (Restroom Hand Dryers Spread More Germs than Paper Towels, Study Finds par. 5).

Person-contamination experiment involved black paint instead of the bacteria and the users wore white suits, to detect which areas of the users’ bodies were hit the most. Paper towel dispensers did not produce any paint spots, while jet air dryer users’ suits counted 144.1 spots and those of warm air dryer users – 65.8 spots (Air dryers ‘blown away’ by paper towels in germ tests par. 29).

Person contamination

Conclusion

The research was conducted in November this year, it is relatively new, but the hypotheses existed for at least a year. The data collected during the research is reliable and sufficient to present strong proofs of the theory. One limitation this research has it that the contaminated hands were placed under the dryers without washing, which assumes that a person would use the dryer right after using the toilet but skipping the hand washing procedure.

The research is important because airborne bacteria present serious danger in the contemporary world, so all possible ways of spreading them need to be detected and addressed. The conclusion of this research points out one of such ways. Its reduction is possible and easy. Findings of the research show that paper towel dispensers are much safer than hand dryers in relation to spreading airborne bacteria as the number of colony forming units on distributed by paper towel dispensers was significantly smaller than that of the dryers.

Works Cited

Air dryers ‘blown away’ by paper towels in germ tests. PubMed Health. 2014.

Restroom Hand Dryers Spread More Germs Than Paper Towels, Study Finds. Drugs. 2014.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2020, March 25). Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hand-dryers-versus-paper-towels/

Work Cited

"Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels." IvyPanda, 25 Mar. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/hand-dryers-versus-paper-towels/.

References

IvyPanda. (2020) 'Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels'. 25 March.

References

IvyPanda. 2020. "Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels." March 25, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hand-dryers-versus-paper-towels/.

1. IvyPanda. "Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels." March 25, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hand-dryers-versus-paper-towels/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Hand Dryers versus Paper Towels." March 25, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hand-dryers-versus-paper-towels/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1