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Flushing the toilet can release a ‘plume’ of breathable pathogens – and closing the lid won’t stop their escape

Steady3 outlets reported this in 3 reports over 3 days
After publishing: 2 descriptions edited2 changes
  1. The Guardian Worldseen 9 Sept, 00:18description edited
    what the description said, before and after

    New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Flushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found. And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume” of potential pathogens. Continue reading...

    New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Flushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found. And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume” of potential pathogens. Continue reading...

  2. The Guardian Worldseen 11 Sept, 04:09description edited
    what the description said, before and after

    New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Flushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found. And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume” of potential pathogens. Continue reading...

    New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus Flushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found. And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume” of potential pathogens. Continue reading...

Tue, 8 September 2026Fri, 11 September 2026

What it is about

Flinders UniversityScience

Who published it, and when

original reportedited after publishingfirst to report
The Guardian World1 original report - edited after publishing
Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)1 original report
Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)1 original report
8 Sept, 15:00over 3 days11 Sept, 11:15

How it spread - 3 original reports

  1. Tue, 8 September 2026

    1 report
  2. Wed, 9 September 2026

    1 report
  3. Fri, 11 September 2026

    1 report

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