很多人冲马桶都没有盖上盖子的习惯，殊不知这样做给了病毒传播的便利。扬州大学的研究发现，冲马桶时不合盖，升腾的水雾可达到头部高度，从而可能让人吸入水雾中的病毒。

 Flushing the toilet with the lid up creates a cloud of spray that can be breathed in and may spread infection, such as coronavirus, say researchers.

研究人员称，冲马桶时不盖上盖子，就会吸入马桶上方的水雾，从而可能感染和传播病毒，比如新冠病毒。

Chinese scientists calculate that flushing can propel a plume of spray up and out of the toilet bowl, reaching head height and beyond.

中国科学家估算，冲马桶会造成马桶中的水雾升腾到头部高度甚至更高。

Droplets can travel up to 3ft - or 91cm - from ground level, according to the computer model used by the scientists from Yangzhou University.

根据扬州大学的科学家运用的计算机模型，（冲马桶产生的）飞沫可传播到距离地面3英尺（91厘米）的高度。

Shutting the lid would avoid this.

盖上马桶盖子则会避免这种传播。

The work is published in the journal Physics of Fluids.

该研究发表在期刊《流体物理学》上。

Coronavirus is spread through airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes, or objects that are contaminated with them.

新冠病毒通过咳嗽和打喷嚏散布到空气中的飞沫，或是被新冠病毒污染的物体来传播。

People who are infected can also have traces of the virus in their faeces, although it is not yet clear whether this might be another way to pass the disease on to others.

在新冠病毒感染者的粪便中也能检测到病毒，不过尚不清楚病毒是否也能通过粪便传播。

Scientists around the world are testing sewage and wastewater to determine how some people might have become infected with coronavirus.

世界各地的科学家正在测试下水道的污水和废水，以确定某些人是如何感染新冠病毒的。

Other viruses can be spread by poor toilet hygiene, known as faecal-oral transmission.

其他病毒可以通过不良的如厕卫生习惯来传播，也就是所谓的粪口传播。

As water pours into the toilet bowl during a flush, it strikes the side, creating turbulence and droplets. The droplets are so small they typically float in the air for more than a minute, according to study author Ji-Xiang Wang from Yangzhou University, China.

该研究报告的作者、来自中国扬州大学的王吉祥（音译）写道，在马桶冲水时，水流涌进马桶内会撞击侧面，引发湍流和飞沫。这些飞沫非常小，通常会在空气中悬浮超过一分钟。

Dr Bryan Bzdek, from the Bristol Aerosol Research Centre at the University of Bristol, said although there was no clear evidence that coronavirus might spread in this way, it made sense to take precautions.

来自布里斯托大学布里斯托气溶胶研究中心的布莱恩·布兹德克博士说，尽管没有明确证据表明新冠病毒可能以这种方式传播，但是采取预防措施是合理的。

"The study authors suggest that, whenever possible, we should keep the toilet lid down when we flush, clean the toilet seat and any other contact areas frequently, and wash our hands after using the toilet.

“研究作者指出，只要可能，我们应该在冲马桶时把马桶盖子放下来，经常清洁马桶座和其他任何和身体接触的区域，并在如厕后洗手。”

"While this study is unable to demonstrate that these measures will reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, many other viruses are transmitted through the faecal-oral route, so these are good hygiene practices to have anyway."

“尽管这项研究无法证明，这些措施会减少新冠病毒的传播，但许多其他病毒都是通过粪口传播途径传播的，所以无论如何，这都是很好的卫生习惯。”