Public Restrooms Unsanitary: Report

The sanitary condition of the public women’s restrooms of major cross-country bus terminals and subway stations has been revealed to be very poor.

Professor Chun Jong-sik’s research team of the Seoul National University School of Biological Sciences Microbiology Lab announced on February 4 that 31 types of bacteria were found on the toilet seats of five women’s restrooms in the Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu line, Honam line), Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, Seoul Station, and Yongsan Station, in their “Research Study Report on Bacteria Existing on Public Restroom Toilet Seats”.

An average of 710,000 germs was detected per toilet seat. This is equivalent to 3,800 germs per every 10cm². This is 44 times the number of germs on subway handles (86 germs per 10cm²) and 11 times that of restroom doorknobs (340 germs per 10cm²), according to a study on the extent and degree of bacterial pollution conducted last year by the Consumer Protection Board.

Of the research targets, the Gyeongbu line of the Seoul Express Bus Terminal showed the highest number of bacteria, at 2.0 million per toilet seat. The restroom with the least bacteria was the Honam line of the same terminal, at 130,000 per toilet seat.

The types of bacteria detected were 17 types of the E. coli group, nine of the salmonella group, and five of the staphylococcus group.

Professor Chun explained, “According to the results, the salmonella bacteria fortunately were not discovered among the salmonella-resembling group bacteria, but the E. coli bacteria was discovered in addition to other bacteria in its group.”

Professor Chun also said, “This study was conducted in autumn. In summer, when it is hotter and more humid, the problem will be much more serious. Just using disinfectants when cleaning restrooms will help a great deal. Restrooms must be disinfected thoroughly.” The study was conducted last October upon the request of the Korea Toilet Association.

achim@donga.com