Travelling through an airport involves a lot of tactile experiences – from holding onto handrails, touching trays at airport security and going to the toilet. Many passengers may think that the latter would be a very filthy place indeed. Research by Insurance Quotes has uncovered where in an airport is the most disgusting place of all. They looked at the number of bacteria and fungal cells per square inch.
The number one filthiest place might come as a surprise to many people – it wasn’t in the bathroom.
Instead, it was revealed to be the self-check-in kiosk. This requires passengers to use a screen.
The self-check-in kiosk contained an average of 253,857 CFU (bacteria and fungal cells per square inch).
In fact, just one self-check-in screen recorded over one million CFU.
The second dirtiest place might make you think twice about sitting down at the airport gate.
The airline gate bench is also covered in germs, with a little over 21,000 CFU.
In third place, with just over 19,000 CFU were water fountain buttons.
Researchers from Insurance Quotes conducted 18 tests across six different surfaces at three major airports to discover these findings.
The CFU figures are particularly alarming when compared with other surfaces.
Insurance Quotes research revealed toilet seats have a total of just 172 CFU.
Surprisingly, kitchen sinks and bathroom doorknobs have much more than toilet seats.
Kitchen sinks have 21,000 CFU while bathroom doorknobs have 203 CFU.
Airport travel can “accentuate and accelerate” the spread of viruses, Dr Alison Galdys, from the University of Minnesota Infection Prevention, told US TV station Fox 9. This was the case in 2009 when a flu pandemic killed an estimated 284,000 people.
Flu and cold viruses can survive up to a couple of days on certain surfaces.
For instance, germs on plastic or stainless steel surfaces can live up to 48 hours.
Viruses such as norovirus – which causes vomiting and diarrhoea – can survive for weeks.
Jonathan Van Tam, professor of health protection at Nottingham University’s school of medicine said: “People can help to minimise contagion by hygienic hand washing and coughing into a handkerchief, tissue or sleeve at all times but especially in public places.”