The lavatory in the airplane may seem like the perfect place for germs to congregate, but surprisingly, the airplane lavatory is far from the most contaminated areas on an aircraft.
The filthiest of them all on an airplane is the tray table. Travelmath tested five different airports and four different flights on two popular airline carriers, and the surfaces were tested for “colony-forming units” (CFU), which could make you fall sick.
According to the report, the most contaminated places on an airplane are:
- Tray table — 2,155 CFU/sq. in.
- Drinking fountain buttons — 1,240 CFU/sq. in.
- Overhead air vent — 285 CFU/sq. in.
- Lavatory flush button — 265 CFU/sq. in.
- Seatbelt buckle — 230 CFU/sq. in.
- Bathroom stall locks — 70 CFU/sq. in.
The next time you’re travelling, make sure to eliminate any direct contact your food has with the tray table. Yuck!
[Source]
