Shining a light on what comes up when you flush

New research shows the impact of flushing the toilet in a whole new light. Using bright green lasers and camera equipment, a team of CU Boulder engineers ran an experiment to reveal how tiny water droplets, invisible to the naked eye, are rapidly ejected into the air when a lid-less, public restroom toilet is flushed. These aerosolized particles are known to transport pathogens and could pose an exposure risk to public bathroom patrons. This visualization method, however, provides experts in plumbing and public health with a consistent way to test improved plumbing design and disinfection and ventilation strategies, in order to reduce exposure risk to pathogens in public restrooms.