This is a shitty experiment and even shittier science journalism by the usually solid Ars Technica.
This is a shitty experiment and even shittier science journalism by the usually solid Ars Technica.
The problem is the experimental model --- dissemination of bacteriophages from hands immersed in viral cultures then stuck in Dyson Airblade hand dryers. This is not faithful to the typical use case of washing hands before putting them in hand dryer*.
*alternative use cases are too horrifying to contemplate.
Originally shared by Ars Technica
"Viral bathroom bomb" is a label you'd like to avoid
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/dyson-dryers-hurl-60x-more-viruses-most-at-kid-face-height-than-other-dryers/
The problem is the experimental model --- dissemination of bacteriophages from hands immersed in viral cultures then stuck in Dyson Airblade hand dryers. This is not faithful to the typical use case of washing hands before putting them in hand dryer*.
*alternative use cases are too horrifying to contemplate.
Originally shared by Ars Technica
"Viral bathroom bomb" is a label you'd like to avoid
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/04/dyson-dryers-hurl-60x-more-viruses-most-at-kid-face-height-than-other-dryers/
Probably a mix. I'd warrant a fair number of people fail to wash hands sufficiently.
ReplyDeleteEdward Morbius yes but are they the ones actually sticking their hands straight into the dryer? Regardless, I would like to see some actual field data about the comparative hygienicity of this device before jumping to conclusions. At this point, to say that the Airblade spreads disease would be a vile smear (so to speak).
ReplyDeleteAlso, bear in mind that James Dyson has a lot of enemies and this may be an attempt to Westinghouse him.
Lev Osherovich Swabbing and culturing bathroom walls at specific distances from such devices would be the best test of this. There's also the question of what countermeasures might be taken. E.g., introducing UV lighting or antisceptic spray (vinegar, alcohol, chlorine) periodically.
ReplyDeletepaul beard that is the conventional wisdom among germophobes. Let's see it properly put to the test, not like this.
ReplyDeleteLet's look at it this way. If we are worried about people who don't wash their hands, is this something that is earth-shakingly more important than the rest of the germs these fuckers spread around the rest of the environment?
ReplyDeleteBob Calder If you happen to be in the jet blast, possibly.
ReplyDeleteI dunno it sounded plausible. Personally, I think the Dyson air blades are cool.
ReplyDeleteHowever, who needs to use an air dryer once you learn how to use only one paper towel to dry your hands?
https://www.ted.com/talks/joe_smith_how_to_use_a_paper_towel?language=en
And save millions of tons of paper waste if everyone does this.
Edward Morbius what matters is not whether a germ lands on you. It's how many 90% of the time.
ReplyDeleteBob Calder That would be suggested in preceding discussion.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that avoiding highly-trafficked public areas seems to cut down markedly on cases of illness.
Robby sanitises his manipulators thoroughly.
I use paper towels to grab restroom doors where feasible.
ReplyDeleteChris Merle Think outside the box.
ReplyDeleteOr outside the restroom.
Hand railings. Water fountains. Door handles. Money.
People are disgustingly dirty.
And our present world is amazingly cleaner than, say, 1900.
Edward Morbius Yup, whatever excess pathogens might splatter out of a Dyson Airblade are a drop in the bucket of what we encounter daily. That's why I'm not buy the extrapolation of this study conclusions regarding pathogens. Perhaps a retrospective study of infection rates for workers in buildings equipped with Airblades vs. other hand-drying technologies would be informative.
ReplyDeletebugs schmugs. the real problem is that dyson products embrace dumbest designs ever. they're the philippe starck of appliances. that airblade is 1500 bucks (uninstalled) and yet there's just no way to use the thing without touching it. gross.
ReplyDeleteExposure to pathogens is good for you more often then not. Don't fall for North American bacteria neurosis. By that I mean the kind of thinking that soaks everything in sight with triclosan. Keep that up for a few more years and watch what happens, folks.
ReplyDeletethey have these dryers at my uni. sometimes I get splatter on my face and even hits my lips. totally disgusting. Alternatively there are different dyson dryers (even newer than these) that have two vents that blow down like regular dryers. those ones are now my favourite. really fast and powerful like you'd expect from dyson but without all this splatter and having to put your hands into this disgusting thing touching all the edges etc. However, with that said, both rooms that have these installed have normal doors with handles that you have to touch to get out and some people don't wash their hands at all. so...
ReplyDeleteThe new ones are like these: http://www.dyson.com.au/hand-dryers/airblade-v.aspx
Michael Vescovo reminds me that there is no reason you couldn't install a restaurant-style swinging door in a restroom although doorless baffles are probably best. You could also install laminar flow air circulation from ceiling to floor.
ReplyDeleteBob Calder I don't get restrooms with doors. most of the time - even without redesigning anything - they don't need them. A lot of new public restroom don't have them. I say restroom for you, lol. Here we just call them toilets. Anyway. The only justification I can see for having them is to be able to lock them after hours. However there's nothing stopping them from having the door stay open during normal hours. According to the experts this is one of the main ways germs are spread; from touching things. Apparently the germs can last for 12 hours or thereabouts before they die. So if someone is sick, they touch the door, you come in after them, then good luck trying not to get sick also. With that said I think if you don't touch your face you might be ok. However you'll still likely be spreading the germs around when you touch things. I don't know exactly how much gets spread but this seems to be one of the ways things are passed on.
ReplyDelete