by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Hand Dryers Increase Bacteria
After people use hand air dryers, the bacteria level on their hands increases by more than 500 percent; when a paper towel is used, bacteria is reduced by 42 percent, according to a study performed by the Applied Ecology Research Group of the University of London. This is because the nozzles on the air dryers build up with bacteria from skin and hair, and blow that back onto your hands and into the air.
On the Other: Paper Towels Can Be Unsanitary
When left to pile up, paper towels pose a sanitation problem that you do not have with hand air dryers. Further, to reduce the buildup of germs and bacteria, some air hand dryers are equipped with germ-fighting additives.
Bottom Line
The potential for the spread of bacteria is greater with hand air dryers than it is with paper towels. Even with the additives to reduce germ buildup, the buildup with hand air dryers is never completely eliminated.
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