According to Bustle:
Studies have estimated that up to 20 percent of commercial airplane passengers develop a respiratory infection within a week of flying. If you want to try to avoid getting sick this year, avoid touching these spots on a plane:
Tray Table
- This was found to harbor the greatest number of CFUs (Colony Forming Units) per square inch: 2,155. For comparison, the average household toilet seat has about 172 CFUs per square inch. TravelMath posited that increased pressure on flight crews to minimize on-boarding and off-boarding turnover means bathrooms get sanitized for every flight but individual trays do not (they're generally cleaned once a day). The solution? Just don't touch your tray. If you gotta, bring baby wipes and clean your hands immediately afterwards.
Overhead Air Vent
- The overhead air vent button is the second most germ-laded spot in an airplane cabin. At 285 CFUs per square inch, it's grosser than the bathroom stall locks in an airport. Honestly, my dudes, bring your own heckin' travel fan.
Lavatory Flush Button
- The next-grossest spot on TravelMath's list was the bathroom flush button, at 265 CFUs per square inch. With airplanes becoming increasingly booked to capacity and seats shrinking (airlines call it "utilization of space," but passengers know it as "Unless I'm the second person to board, there will be no overheard storage space left"), it's not wonder that two bathroom for dozens of people results in some germ-y germs.
Seatbelt Buckle
- The fourth germiest spot in the cabin, clocking in at 230 CFUs per square inch.
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