Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: katieHaylor on 26/06/2017 20:32:17

Title: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: katieHaylor on 26/06/2017 20:32:17
Shireen says:

I'm convinced that I heard the Naked Scientist once say that most germs come from our toilet bowls. If that is the case, then what happens to germs when we 'poo' while on the loo? Do these germs jump back up on us and attach themselves and hang around all day?

What do you think?
Title: Re: Do we pick up germs when using the toilet?
Post by: evan_au on 26/06/2017 21:58:43
In most Western homes, there are more bacteria on kitchen surfaces than on toilet seats.

This is because we use more vicious cleaners in the bathroom than in the kitchen.
And the kitchen is full of food.
Title: Re: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: Bored chemist on 28/06/2017 20:49:44
They don't "jump" but they do get splashed.
Title: Re: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: jeffreyH on 29/06/2017 06:45:29
Studies have been done on the effects of flushing when leaving the toilet seat up. Swiping surfaces afterwards shows the extent of contamination. It can end up on your toothbrush, on toilet paper, towels etc etc. That is not counting the germs on your hands if not washed and dried thoroughly. And yet our species has survived.
Title: Re: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: chris on 30/06/2017 22:28:42
The broad-minded among you might like to follow up on this item we made a few years ago when we were asked, "if coughs and sneezes spread diseases, do farts transmit diarrhoea?"

The answer is, potentially, yes:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/interviews/kitchen-science-food-poisoning-and-passing-bacterial-wind
Title: Re: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: chris on 30/06/2017 22:51:39
Maybe you need some of this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N42EYS7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thenakedscien-21&camp=1634&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01N42EYS7&linkId=e2f93c74bd42a184d232cc76939b48f4
Title: Re: Do germs jump onto us when we use the toilet?
Post by: Danne on 04/10/2017 14:07:37
The toilet is actually more clean than your cleaning spounge.

Licking the toilet has less harm than licking your cleaning spounge.