From obsessing over recycled cabin air to vex about potentially contaminatedcoffee or afternoon tea , flying is n’t fun for germophobes . Now , Lonely Planetreports that traveller who opt for self assay - in should consider break dance out thehand sanitizerbefore they even tally security .
In late 2017 , the squad at websiteinsuranceQuoteschecked out three major U.S. airports , as well as the planes used on several flights , to gauge which areas were the most source - filled . They conducted 18 swob tests across six surfaces ( including airport water jet and planing machine armrests ) , then used lab analysis to measure the fair identification number of dependency - forming whole ( CFU ) , a standard measure for the number of viable bacteria and fungal cells per square inch of a open area .
Self balk - in stall were the germiest aerofoil , according to research laboratory finding . The average kiosk covert contained 253,857 CFU , with one kiosk enter over 1 million CFU . bath flush buttons were , astonishingly , quite a fleck sportsmanlike ( although not that clean ) , with an norm of 95,145 CFU . Other particularly germy spots included the bench armrests at airline gates ( 21,630 CFU on average ) , water fountain buttons ( 19,181 CFU on mean ) and airplane tray table ( 11,595 CFU on average ) .
To put their result in perspective , insuranceQuotes allow the average CFUs forhouseholdobjects and gismo like kitchen sinks ( 21,000 CFU ) , can doorknobs ( 203 CFU ) , and stool seats ( 172 CFU ) . For the most part , these stage were far lower than the single launch in airports and on planes , as you might expect when compare public spaces to private homes .
But this report should n’t plunge travelers into full - onHoward Hughesmode . For one thing , the tests were performed by an insurance company , not a team of cultivate scientist . And at the end of the 24-hour interval , not all germsare really bad for you . As humans , we have billion of microbes living both on us and inside of us . Some of these microbes are good , and can even down disease - cause bacterium . pic to some bacterium can evenstrengthenour immune systems .
Still worried ? While flying , just retrieve to be careful where you put your hands , hive up a travelling - sized bottle of Purell in your carry - on , and follow other preventive tips foravoiding germsin transit .
[ h / tLonely Planet ]
