Exhausting Restroom Air: A Survival Infrastructure Imperative

The Problem

Public restrooms are confined spaces where toilet flushing aerosolizes pathogens (E. coli, S. aureus, norovirus) into the air. Without proper ventilation, these bioaerosols linger, raising infection risks for every visitor.

Seven Citations of evidence for exhausting contaminated air and replacing it with fresh, clean air.

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Ventilation in Buildings. CDC guidance explains how proper ventilation reduces the spread of airborne virus particles indoors, lowering the risk of transmission in confined spaces.

  2. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Indoor Air and COVID-19. EPA emphasizes exhausting restroom air outdoors and increasing the number of air changes per hour to dilute pathogens.

  3. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) – Ventilation, Filtration, and Air Quality Guidance recommends at least 5 air changes per hour in indoor spaces to reduce respiratory infection risk.

  4. Nature Scientific Reports – Exploring Toilet Plume Bioaerosol Exposure Dynamics Demonstrates how flushing generates bioaerosols that remain airborne, with mechanical ventilation significantly reducing pathogen concentrations.

  5. Society for Risk Analysis – Ventilation Fans Reduce Bacteria After Toilet Flushing study shows exhaust fans can reduce bioaerosol risks by up to 10 times after flushing.

  6. News-Medical – Active Ventilation Can Reduce Bioaerosol Risks in Public Restrooms Confirms flushing generates bioaerosols (E. coli, S. aureus) exceeding CDC safety levels, but ventilation dramatically lowers exposure.

  7. StudyFinds – Public Restrooms Revealing Hidden Health Hazards Research shows squat toilets release 2.6 times more bacteria into the air than bidet toilets, with ventilation reducing airborne bacteria by up to 2.2 times. 

What the Act Requires

1. Safer Air Systems Every public restroom must exhaust its full air volume every 5 minutes—vented directly outside, never recirculated into the building’s HVAC system. This prevents the spread of airborne pathogens and improves indoor safety.

2. A National Restroom Registry. Each fixed-location public restroom will be assigned a unique ID and entered into a federal database. This enables:

  • Standardized monitoring and compliance 

  • Faster response to sanitation failures

  • Stronger accountability across public facilities

Takeaways

  • Restroom air is not neutral — flushing aerosolizes pathogens and disperses them outside the building. 

  • Exhausting the entire air volume is essential to remove these bioaerosols.

  • Ventilation systems can reduce pathogen concentrations by factors of 2–10, making them a survival infrastructure.

Protecting Public Health Starts with Clean, Safe Restrooms

"This is not a luxury — it is a national health security measure, backed by science and driven by dignity. Restrooms our survival infrastructure. Restrooms are Armor."
Bruce Bonnett

Our Call to Congress

Public Restroom Renewal Act Foundation, Inc., urges Congress to enact the Public Restroom Renewal Act and protect the health of millions. This is a bipartisan opportunity to lead with foresight, compassion, and courage.

The Public Restroom Renewal Act Foundation, Inc. is leading a national campaign to collect 100,000+ petition signatures urging Congress to pass H.R. Bill, the Public Restroom Renewal Act.

Sign the Public Restroom Renewal Act Petition Today!