[Rumor x Truth] Are 'Gongjung Hwajangsil Soap' Dirty?

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads worldwide, 'hand washing' is ranked as the number one infection prevention guideline. Everyone knows that hands should be thoroughly washed with soap, but there is hesitation about using the soap provided in public restrooms. This is due to the perception that it might be dirty because many people use it.

First of all, washing hands with soap after using the restroom is very important. The difference compared to washing with water alone can be seen. According to a study conducted last year by the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment on the bacteria removal effectiveness of various hand hygiene products available on the market, the average bacteria reduction rate when using soap (solid or liquid) was 96%. Washing under running water for more than 30 seconds resulted in a 91% reduction, and washing for only 15 seconds showed an 87% reduction.

Then, what about solid soap provided in public restrooms that many people touch, or liquid soap with reusable containers? Experts say that even soap provided in public restrooms has a significantly higher bacteria removal function compared to washing with water alone.

In 2018, MBC's "Live Today Morning" conducted an experiment washing hands with soap provided in public restrooms and with new soap, and the cleanliness of the hands was similar. Since soap is alkaline, bacteria find it difficult to survive on it, so even if it looks contaminated on the surface, it is not actually contaminated.

Is it possible to transmit diseases by using soap that someone with an illness has used? The conclusion is no. According to a column by Dr. Richard Classico published in The New York Times, soap does not act as a vector for transmitting diseases. After contaminating hands with 5 billion pathogens such as E. coli and Staphylococcus, washing with new soap, and then passing the soap to another person to wash their hands, the pathogens were not transmitted through the soap.

Although there have been studies reporting the presence of bacteria on soap, it is emphasized that this does not reduce the effectiveness of soap. The presence or absence of bacteria on soap does not determine whether soap transmits pathogens.

One point to be cautious about is that even if you wash your hands thoroughly with soap, using a hand dryer makes it all for nothing. According to a study by Dr. Mark Wilcox of the University of Leeds Medical School published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, hand dryers in public restrooms generate up to 27 times more bacteria compared to using paper towels.

If hands are dried with a hand dryer without proper washing, bacteria spread and remain around the dryer. Even 5 minutes after the dryer stops operating, 48% of the released bacteria remained in the air around the dryer, and bacteria were still detected after 15 minutes.

Therefore, Dr. Wilcox pointed out that using hand dryers in public restrooms not only spreads bacteria on one's own hands but also exposes oneself to bacteria spread by others.