Study

Crimaldi, J.P., True, A.C., Linden, K.G. et al. Commercial toilets emit energetic and rapidly spreading aerosol plumes. Sci Rep 12, 20493 (2022).

Study Summary (adapted from study abstract)

Aerosols have the potential to spread infectious diseases such as SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and norovirus. When toilets are flushed, they release aerosols containing pathogens found in feces. However, there is limited understanding of how these aerosol plumes evolve over time and space, as well as the velocity patterns that carry them. By using laser light to illuminate the aerosols released during flushing, we have analyzed the movement of these plumes from a commercial flushometer-type toilet. We have observed that the flushing action generates a turbulent jet with velocities exceeding 2 m/s, propelling aerosols to heights of up to 1.5 m within 8 seconds. This research helps to quantify the dynamics of toilet plumes and the associated flow velocities, laying the groundwork for future strategies aimed at reducing plume formation or effectively disinfecting pathogens within them.