# Does flushing a urinal cause dirty water to be spewed around the bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 3, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-flushing-a-urinal-cause-dirty-water-to-be-spewed-around-the-bathroom/107017 "2002-05-03T06:28:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![knock\_knock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@knock\_knock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/knock_knock)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-flushing-a-urinal-cause-dirty-water-to-be-spewed-around-the-bathroom/107017/1 "2002-05-03T06:28:09Z")
Cecil wrote [a column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990416.html) about how flushing the toilet spews germs. Does the same thing happen with urinals? Is it worse than “splash-back”? I know some guys who flush midstream at a urinal. Are they putting themselves at risk? ---
**Author:** ![heresiarch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@heresiarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heresiarch)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-flushing-a-urinal-cause-dirty-water-to-be-spewed-around-the-bathroom/107017/2 "2002-05-03T07:49:09Z")
hehe, I remember that one. Phrases like “toilet aerosol” DO tend to stick in one’s mind. I guess the principle would be the same for a urinal. Why not? As far as risk goes, how much risk is there in being exposed to a minute quantity of urine? I’m sure there’s less pee in the air than in the proverbial last drop that always falls in your pants. OK, I anticipate people objecting, “but i could _inhale_ it!” Well, yeah. I still don’t think it’s a big deal. Unless you are ill, [urine is sterile.](http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/urinesample.htm)