Bacteria thrive on paper towels, Quebec study says
Posted December 30, 2011 8:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
You might want to use the hand dryer next time you visit a public washroom.
Researchers from Laval University in Quebec City studied six types of paper towel sold in Canada and discovered bacteria thrive on the products, even unused ones.
The study found bacteria levels between 100 and 1,000-fold more on recycled paper towels than those detected on “virgin wood pulp brand” products.
“This pilot study demonstrated that a large community of culturable bacteria, including toxin producers, can be isolated from unused paper towels and that they may be transferred to individuals after hand washing,” the paper states.
The study’s authors insist these results don’t imply paper towels are unsafe, only that they could pose a potential problem for people with weakened immune systems.
