Lifting the lid on toilet plume aerosol: a literature review with suggestions for future research

Details

• Personal Author:
  Hirst, Deborah V. L. ; Johnson, Douglas L. ; Lynch RA ; Mead, Kenneth R.
• Description:
  BACKGROUND: The potential risks associated with "toilet plume" aerosols produced by flush toilets is a subject of continuing study. This review examines the evidence regarding toilet plume bioaerosol generation and infectious disease transmission. METHODS: The peer-reviewed scientific literature was searched to identify articles related to aerosol production during toilet flushing, as well as epidemiologic studies examining the potential role of toilets in infectious disease outbreaks. RESULTS: The studies demonstrate that potentially infectious aerosols may be produced in substantial quantities during flushing. Aerosolization can continue through multiple flushes to expose subsequent toilet users. Some of the aerosols desiccate to become droplet nuclei and remain adrift in the air currents. However, no studies have yet clearly demonstrated or refuted toilet plume-related disease transmission, and the significance of the risk remains largely uncharacterized. CONCLUSION: Research suggests that toilet plume could play a contributory role in the transmission of infectious diseases. Additional research in multiple areas is warranted to assess the risks posed by toilet plume, especially within health care facilities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollution Air Pollution, Indoor Communicable Diseases Epidemiology Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-quality Airborne Infection Author Keywords: Aerosol Bioaerosol Droplet Nuclei Exposure-levels Health-care-facilities Infectious-diseases Risk-factors
• ISSN:
  0196-6553
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; Oklahoma ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  254-258
• Volume:
  41
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20042357
• Citation:
  Am J Infect Control 2013 Mar; 41(3):254-258
• Contact Point Address:
  David L. Johnson, PhD, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Oklahoma College of Public Health, P.O. Box 26901, Room 431, Oklahoma City, OK 73126-0901
• Email:
  David-Johnson@ouhsc.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Infection Control
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1da3f312ff177e8b06136b0bad7e9641e6f9e85ea2b76d6f6a7b1204fec1de7102e2ca108ceeecd09ae243f0993eb9b718203b24519891c3f4584b31d2b8c326
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/194599/cdc_194599_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 152.81 KB ]