{
  "id": 6296853,
  "title": "Flushing the toilet can release a ‘plume’ of breathable pathogens – and closing the lid won’t stop their escape",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/flushing-the-toilet-can-release-a-plume-of-breathable-pathogens-and-6296853",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T15:00:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian",
    "slug": "the-guardian",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/09/flushing-the-toilet-releases-pathogens-inhaled"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "New research shows turbulent flushes create toilet-generated aerosols that can transmit legionella, influenza and norovirus Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Flushing toilets release particles into the “breathing zone” of adults and can remain suspended in the air for at least 20 seconds, a new study has found. And closing the lid might not be enough to avoid a “plume”…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}