CURRENT ENGLISH

Closing toilet-seat lids may not stop spread of germs
29th January 2024

HarderMany people believe that
putting the toilet-seat lid
down helps to prevent thespread of dangerous germs
and viruses. A recent study
pretty much dispels thissupposition. A team of microbiologists fromthe University of Arizona conducted
research on the aerial activity of viralparticles after a toilet is flushed. The
scientists determined that there is little
difference in the spread of germs, regardlessof whether the lid is up or down.
Microbiologist Dr Charles Gerba has been
studying lavatory pathogens for nearly five
decades. He said: "All that air when you flush
goes somewhere, and it carries the viruses
that are in the toilet bowl out of it." He saida flush forces bacteria out from under the lid
and contaminates nearby areas.

The researchers tested the spread of a test
virus in two bathrooms after a flush. The
virus was one not able to infect humans.
They flushed one bowl with the lid up, andanother with the lid down. After a minute,they used a sponge to swab the surfaces inthe toilet. They concluded that there wereno significant statistical differences in thequantities of the virus in the two bathrooms.
They added that the results "demonstratethat closing the toilet lid prior to flushingdoes not mitigate the risk of contaminating
bathroom surfaces, and that disinfection of
all restroom surfaces may be necessary after
flushing or after toilet-brush use" to cut thespread of germs. They also said it was
important to disinfect the water in the bowl.
Sources: usatoday.com / dailymail.co.uk /forbes.com/ breakingnewsenglish.com

DISCUSS“Toilet seats are cleaner than computer
keyboards.” Do you agree or disagree? Why(not)?

1CURRENT ENGLISHDISCUSS MORE

True / False

1) What do you think of toilet lids?

1. A study proved that putting the toilet
lid down helps kill germs. T / F
2. Microbiologists studied the aerial
spread of germs from toilets. T / F
3. Dr Charles Gerba has studied
pathogens for nearly half a century.
T/F
4. A microbiologist said flushing a toilet
keeps germs in the toilet bowl. T / F
5. Researchers studied the spread ofgerms in a dozen toilets. T / F
6. The researchers found sponges werecovered in germs. T / F
7. The researchers suggested disinfecting
the surfaces in toilets. T / F
8. The researchers said there was noneed to disinfect water in the bowl.
T/F

2) What worries do you have about toilet
seats?
3) Should we hold our breath when weflush the toilet?
4) What do you think of public toilets?
5) What kinds of videos do you look atonline?
6) How hygienic are door
escalator handrails, andbuttons?

handles,elevator7) What do you do to avoid ‘stuff’ in public
toilets?
8) What do you think of putting fluffy
covers on toilet seats?
9) What’s the worst toilet you’ve ever beenin?

Synonym Match

10) Has reading this article changed yourview of toilet seats?

(The words in bold are from the news
article.)1. suppositiona. carried out

Speaking – Toilets

2. conductedb. reduce

3. determinedc. infects

Which place has the best toilet? Rank these
items from 1 (top) to 8 (bottom).

4. forces

d. major___ Train stations

5. contaminates

e. show___ Convenience stores

6. surfaces

f. discovered___ McDonald’s

7. significant

g. utilization___ Parks

8. demonstrateh. drives___ Hospitals

9. mitigate

i.

belief___ Schools

10. usej.

tops___ Hotels___ Streets2