A new study revealed that, 20 seconds after flushing the toilet, there are fecal particles suspended in the air. These aerosols can remain in the environment for at least that period of time, reaching a height close to the breathing zone of an adult.
The phenomenon is called toilet plume, which results from the turbulence caused by flushing the toilet. The force of the water when flushing can produce an air current capable of carrying droplets into the air, spreading fecal material into the environment.
This discovery raises concerns about exposure to pathogens present in these suspended particles, especially in shared bathrooms or public spaces where multiple people may be affected by the same flush.
