Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/834414
Joke s of the Week Did you hear about the guy who fell into the vat of varnish? A terrible end, but a wonderful finish. What do you call two guys who hang around your window? Kurt and Rod. How does NASA organize a party? They planet. Have you heard about corduroy pillows? They're making headlines. What do you get when yo u cross a dyslexic, an insomniac, and an agnostic? Someone who lays awake at night wondering if there is a dog. © Portable Sanitation Ass ociation International (PSAI) • 2626 E 82 n d Street, Suite 175 • Bloomi ngton, MN 55425 www.psai.org • 952 - 854 - 8300 W EEKLY EDITION JUNE 7, 2017 Debunking the Toilet Seat Disease Debate It turns out that you actually cannot catch most diseases from a dirty toilet seat – and it never had anything to do with your disposable toi let seat cover When people use a public restroom , "the fear is powerful: how clean can a public bathroom really be?" And while some public restrooms – whether permanent or portable – are cleaner than others, it is actually "surprisingly unlikely that you'll … 'catch' something from a toilet seat." There has been a long - lasting debate on whether or not disease can be spread by bacteria that remain on a toilet seat between users. The answer, as the article assures us, is that this is highly unlikely. In the case of a se xually transmitted infection, there is "no evidence that anyone has ever contracted [such a disease] from a public restroom." This is because when any form of bacteria does end up on a toilet seat, it is almost always in a very small amount that dies quick ly after hitting the surface. There are a few forms of bacteria that are known for their tendency to linger. One example is "the cruise ship bug", or norovirus, which is known to spread rapidly when in an isolated area, such as daycare centers, schools, or cruise ships. This can spread via infected fecal matter. E. coli and C. difficile have also been known to spread via fecal matter in the restroom. Each of these bacteria has the opportunity to end up on a toilet seat because of the water and fecal matte r that "shoots into the air after you flush" or the "toilet plume." But as the article stresses, it is not commonplace that a toilet seat would have such bacteria awaiting the next user. Some may believe that this information makes no difference because of their constant use of disposable toilet seat covers. However, according to public health researcher Kelly Renyolds, PhD, "germs are far smaller than the holes in those covers" – and they are ineffective against the "toilet plume left by others." While i t is a simple and obvious solution, it still remains true that the best way to truly prevent falling ill from something left in the bathroom is to wash your hands. READ THE STORY