A study published in the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. has found that commercial paper towels may be contaminated with potentially dangerous bacteria.
Researchers found that six brands of commercial paper towels, the type used to dry hands in public bathrooms, contained bacteria. The paper towels made with recycled paper had the most bacteria. The study authors say, “… the concentration of bacteria in the recycled paper was between 100- to 1,000-fold higher than the virgin wood pulp brand.”
Recycled paper mills have a problem with bacterial slime. Other studies have found that recycled paper products can have high bacterial counts. The recycled paper is prime breeding ground for bacteria because it contains starches used as binding ingredients that serve as food for germs.
The most common strain found was Bacillus, a bacteria associated with food poisoning. Other strains found included Paenibacillus, Exiguobacterium, and Clostridium. The study did not find that these paper towels caused any illness, or that any bacteria became airborne during use.
Some food safety experts recommend the use of paper towels because there is less potential for cross-contamination. The towels are discarded after use, unlike sponges and cloth towels, which are reused many times and may harbor bacteria.
The researchers say that the amount of bacteria found in these products would not make healthy people sick, but they may be dangerous for the elderly, infants and young children, and those with compromised and weakened immune systems.
