A modern large-scale shopping mall should be equipped with an expansive underground parking lot, offer a variety of promotional activities, and have attentive and convenient facilities, but their public restrooms often become a focal point of customer concern. In particular, for seated toilets, many people hesitate, worried about hygiene issues.

In fact, using public restrooms, especially those in malls, has become an inevitable part of everyday life. According to statistics from the World Toilet Organization, people will spend about 813 days of their lives in restrooms. Therefore, a clean, hygienic, and comfortable restroom can not only maintain personal well-being but also helps to reduce the spread of diseases; it is an indispensable component of urban infrastructure.

In emergency situations, people often choose to take care of their excretory needs at the nearest facilities. However, there may be hygiene concerns with the toilet seats in malls, as they may have been in contact with countless individuals. Despite this, according to relevant surveys, when faced with the choice between using squat toilets or seated toilets, most people prefer squat toilets.

This is particularly so for women, as men's restrooms are usually equipped with urinals, allowing for the separation of liquid and solid waste. Additionally, women typically spend a longer time in the toilets than men, which is why there are especially many complaints about mall restrooms from women online.

However, are public toilets' seated facilities hygienic, safe to use, and unlikely to spread diseases? In fact, according to the "Public Place Sanitary Management Standards" (GB 37487-2019), restrooms in normally operating malls should be safe to use. Cleaning and sterilizing staff are scheduled to regularly clean and disinfect, ensuring hygienic conditions meet the standards.

Concerning which is more hygienic between seated and squat toilets, there are studies both domestically and abroad showing that public toilet seats may actually be cleaner than squat toilets. For example, in 2011 an Iranian research team conducted a year-long study on 40 toilets (including 20 seated and 20 squat toilets).

The study pointed out that despite the two types of toilets having similar surface microbial types, the number of pathogens found on squat toilet fixtures was much higher. The team found that there were significantly more microbes on squat facilities than on seated ones, as in either type of toilet, flushing causes splashing and aerosols, carrying bacteria.

Modern toilets with siphonic structures have built-in S-shaped pipes, which effectively limit the spread of aerosol particles. Additionally, as there is a farther distance between the person using a seated toilet and the water surface, this further prevents the spread of aerosols. If the toilet lid is closed during flushing, it can further reduce the dissemination of pathogens.

Unlike seated toilets, when squatting, a person's nose and mouth are closer to the drainpipe, increasing the chance of inhaling splashed matter and aerosols. Since squat toilets lack a lid, water and aerosols can spread more extensively into the air during flushing, increasing the risk of contact with pathogens. According to a 2019 report by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, a substantial global population still defecates in outdoor environments like squat pits, increasing the risk of communicable diseases.

Although some people have reservations about using toilets, worrying about the transmission of skin or sexually transmitted diseases through toilet seats, in reality, STDs such as syphilis and AIDS are mainly transmitted through sexual activity, mother-to-child, and blood contact, with a very low likelihood of transmission through toilet seats. Most STDs are difficult to spread through public restrooms.

While pathogens like dysentery and E. coli are indeed common microbes in public washrooms, infection typically requires contact with a sufficient amount of the pathogens. Considering that toilet seats are often made of cold and hard materials unsuitable for microbial survival, and with regular disinfection, using toilets in shopping malls is safe and does not increase the risk of illness in public spaces.

A survey by the National Institutes of Health in the United States has revealed the distribution of bacteria in different areas, showing the distinction between skin bacteria and intestinal bacteria, reminding us to pay attention to personal hygiene in public places.

As for the tendency of malls to install toilets instead of squat toilets, considerations beyond hygiene include economic and safety factors.

The design choice of public toilets is crucial for the users of the facilities. In this regard, places like malls prefer to install toilets rather than squat toilets. The main reason is that squat toilet spaces need to be installed at a height slightly above the ground, usually 20-30 centimeters, to ensure enough space between the squat toilet and the plumbing. Such a design not only increases material and financial costs but also requires more time from professionals, whereas toilets come with their own height and are easier to install.

Considering the flow of customers of all ages and mobility in malls, toilets provide better care for the elderly, young, sick, and disabled. Maintaining a squat for a long time may lead to blood pooling in the lower body, resulting in dizziness, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears due to insufficient cerebral blood supply, while seated toilets are less likely to cause such problems. Therefore, for safety reasons, malls tend to install toilets.

Although some people have psychological concerns about public restroom toilets, we can reduce potential risks with some simple measures, such as wiping the toilet seat with a wet wipe, closing the lid before flushing, and thoroughly washing hands afterward.

It is important to note that one should never choose to squat on the toilet seat for the sake of "hygiene." This practice not only does not help reduce the spread of germs but can also contaminate the toilet seat, causing trouble for the next user, and may even lead to toilet breakage, causing injury to oneself.

Civilized restroom habits are a reflection of personal and public health. Adhering to restroom etiquette can help build a harmonious restroom environment.