Dyson Hand Dryer Found to Spread 1,300 Times More Bacteria Than Paper Towels

Putting Dyson Airblade to the test, researchers from University of Leeds School of Medicine, led by Professor Mark Wilcox, tested to see which hand drying method was most hygienic.  They tested the Dyson, a standard air hand dryer and paper towels, mimicking bacteria levels of poor hand cleansing.

After drying their hands with the three different methods, the findings showed that the Airblade spreads 60 times more germs than standard warm air hand dryers. Even more unsettling are the contamination radius statistics. The researchers found that the Airblade’s 430mph blasts were able to spread bacteria nearly ten feet across the room. To compare, standard drier and paper towel methods spread pathogens 2.5 feet and 9 inches, respectively.

To up the gross factor even further, the scientists collected nearly half of the Lactobacilli bacteria more than five minutes after hand drying but were still able to detect the Lactobacilli in the air fifteen minutes afterwards.

Dyson has made grand claims about their hand dryer, but one that seems most horrific is the statement from their website “has been approved for use in food preparation environments”.  If germs are rocketed out into the room by 10 feet, one may not want to be eating in that food establishment.

“Next time you dry your hands in a public toilet using an electric hand dryer, you may be spreading bacteria without knowing it.  You may also be splattered with bugs from other people’s hands,” said Wilcox. “These findings are important for understanding the ways in which bacteria spread, with the potential to transmit illness and disease.”

In a similar study conducted in 2014, researchers from the University of Leeds found a large increase in airborne germ counts around jet air dryers versus paper towel dispensers. A Dyson spokesperson contested the research was “conducted under artificial conditions,” therefore rendering the results “flawed.” The claim mirrors the company’s past accusations that US paper towel corporations, including Kimberly Clark, have commissioned research studies resulting in “biased and misleading” findings.

Certainly Dyson would call the research flawed as hurts the credibility of the company and product. Perhaps a better response would be to mirror the experiment and see if they get the same results and then improve their product.

The next time one finds a Dyson drier in a public restroom, stand back from the blast zone and perhaps wear a mask.

Source: Breitbart