Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of aerosol particles spread about when a toilet is flushed. They may contain fecal material, including bacteria shown in this image in a different color. The particles also contain other microorganisms. Once aerosolized, the particles soon settle on surfaces nearby, such as the toilet bowl rim and under the seat. A glass cover slip was attached to a toilet bowl rim for 10 days, and the particles which settled on it were examined by SEM without any additional preparatory steps except coating with gold. Bacteria were not easily identifiable as they were buried under the other total solids of the droplets. The minute droplets (about 1 mm in diameter) were visible to the naked eye on the cover slips. Image width: 21.4 micrometers. Magnification: 4673x if the image is printed 10 cm wide.