When Urinating --- Don't Inhale

A study published in the?American Journal of Infection Control, found evidence of COVID-19 in infected people's urine. Other studies have also found traces of the virus in all human waste.??

Because COVID is primarily spread through inhalation, the concern is that if the virus is in urine and a urinal is flushed, the pathogens that cause the virus can become airborne and, if so, potentially inhaled, spreading the disease.

The possibility is there, according to a just released research paper. In this study, a team of scientists at a Chinese University found that liquid droplets from a water-using urinal, spray into the air when the urinal is flushed.?

Worse, they have direction. These droplets are usually headed directly at the man using the urinal, according to the researchers.

The researchers also determined that when airborne particles are released from the urinal after flushing, over 57 percent have traveled past the urinal's exterior surface within about five seconds. In this truly short time, they have also risen nearly three feet in the air. Over time, they usually rise even higher.

Studies have already uncovered this phenomenon with toilets. It's referred to as toilet plume.?

This, however, appears to be the first study specifically focused on what can now be termed "urinal plume.?

We should be clear. Just by being near a urinal after it is flushed and inhaling urinal plume containing traces of COVID-19, does not mean that someone will get sick. We do not know if they will inhale enough pathogens to contract the disease. However, the possibility does exist.

Aware of this, what should a gentleman do?

• Especially now, during the pandemic, always wear a mask when using a public restroom.
• Stand as far away from other urinal users as possible; view this as another form of social distancing, but this time, in public restrooms.
• If the urinal has an automatic flushing system, move away from the urinal when appropriate and as quickly as possible.
• Try to leave the urinal?before?the flushing system activates and walk at least six feet away.
• Keep your mouth closed and avoid inhaling when the urinal flushes and while walking away from the urinal.?
• If waiting in line to use a urinal, wait for the flushing to complete and the air to clear before approaching the urinal. This will take a minimum of ten seconds. Wait longer if possible.

Because of COVID, some restroom fixture manufacturers has been considering redesigning their products. The goal is to reduce any form of plume, whether from toilets or urinals.

For instance, lids on toilets, removed decades ago to cut costs and cleaning times, may return. Studies have found that just by installing a lid on a toilet, much of the toilet plume is blocked and not released.

As to redesigning urinals, nothing has been introduced. Urinals have looked about the same since they were first introduced in the mid-1800s.?

However, there are options. Waterless urinals look the same as most traditional urinals. However, because they do not use water, there is no flush. It's the flush that causes the particulates, including those with traces of the virus, to become airborne.?

In this case, no-flush means no-plume, which means a healthier restroom.?

?Klaus Reichardt is CEO and founder of Waterless Co, Inc, Vista, Calif.?Reichardt founded the company in 1991 with the goal of establishing a new market segment in the plumbing fixture industry with water efficiency in mind. Reichardt is a frequent writer and presenter, discussing water conservation issues.?He can be reached at [email protected].

1. "Cautious handling of urine from moderate to severe COVID-19 patients;" by Nomoto, H., Ishikane, M., Katagiri, D., Kinoshita, N., Nagashima, M., Sadamasu, K., Yoshimura, K., & Ohmagari, N. (2020); published in the?American Journal of Infection Control, August 1, 2020

?2. "Virus transmission from urinals," by?Ji-Xiang Wang et al., published in?Physics of Fluids; August 18, 2020.