Findings: Air bacterial counts in close proximity to hand drying were 4.5-fold higher for the jet air dryer (70.7 cfu) compared with the warm air dryer (15.7 cfu) (P=0.001), and 27-fold higher compared with use of paper towels (2.6 cfu) (P<0.001).* Airborne counts were also significantly different during use of towel drying versus warm air dryer (P=0.001). A similar pattern was seen for bacterial counts at 1m away. Visualization experiments demonstrated that the jet air dryer caused the most droplet dispersal.
![[Evidence Inconclusive] Germ Blaster](https://mander.xyz/pictrs/image/aa903409-5673-47a1-a32e-db6cf31e13b9.png){kind=link}
This is not hot air though, so the cited source does not apply.
Edit: but it does link to more relevant study towards the end, comparing different means of hand drying.
You’re right and I linked a fairly old study. I’ve edited my comment to add a more recent source.
Kudos.
Isn’t the point to get bacteria off your hands? Isn’t it better to have them in the air than on your hands?
It’s a lot more likely I’ll eat something I touched than something that’s been sitting in bathroom air.