The dirtiest part of the airport revealed and it ISN’T the toilet – every passenger touches it
YOU might think that the toilets are the dirtiest place in an airport, and for obvious reasons.
However, research has shown that another place has far more germs than the public bathrooms, due to the number of passengers that pass through it.
An published in 2018 showed the findings of an investigation into the presence of respiratory virus pathogens in a major airport.
The research was carried out to learn how to "identify risk points and guide measures to minimize transmission."
While the toilets are a clear first choice when considering where the dirtiest part of an airport might be, the research showed that passengers should be more concerned about washing their hands after visiting the security gates.
The study, carried out at an airport in Finland during peak flu season between 2015-16, revealed that plastic security trays are actually the worst spot for germs in an airport.
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This is because it is "almost inevitable" that every passenger will have to touch one of them on their way from the entrance to their plane.
Adding to their potential for holding onto germs is the fact that plastic surfaces are known to be areas of "prolonged virus survival".
The researchers said: "Security procedures are an obligatory step for all departing passengers, and each security tray is rapidly recycled and potentially touched by several hundred passengers per day.
"Also, plastic security trays are non-porous and virus survival is known to be prolonged."
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The researchers said that the security trays are not routinely disinfected, as far as they were aware.
They recommended "offering hand sanitization with alcohol handrub before and after security screening" in order to reduce the chances of people picking up viruses at airports.
Airport check-in machines have also been found to be sources of germs.
There are other "virus hot-zones" worth avoiding, according to this doctor.
