Lucía Almagro, biotechnologist: "I would never do this in a public bathroom."

Biotechnology expert Lucía Almagro recently shared her precautions when using public restrooms , focusing on a common item: hand dryers. According to Almagro, these devices can be a source of bacterial contamination , especially when they don't have specific filters . The moisture accumulated inside creates an environment conducive to the growth of bacteria, which are then released by the air stream .

Scientific studies support their claims. Research conducted by the University of Connecticut detected up to 254 bacterial colonies in just half a minute of using a hot-air dryer . In contrast, ambient bathroom air , without the use of these devices, showed a significantly lower bacterial load . Although scientific evidence is not abundant, it does point to a significant difference between hand-drying methods.

The alternative Almagro advocates is paper towels . According to a review in the Journal of Hospital Infection , this method not only dries hands better, but also helps reduce environmental contamination . The friction of the towels helps eliminate up to 71% of bacteria , compared to the mere 23% that air dryers can remove. He also suggests using them to avoid direct contact with door handles and latches .

In the absence of paper towels, Almagro recommends letting your hands air dry naturally . This seemingly simple gesture would be more hygienic than using conventional hand dryers . Common sense , combined with available scientific data, reinforces the decision to avoid these devices in public spaces , especially when preventing contagion in shared environments is a priority.