In an effort to determine which airport and airplane surfaces have the most bacteria, website Travelmath.com sent a microbiologist to take 26 samples from five U.S. airports and four flights. The biggest surprise of all? There are far dirtier places than washrooms. Tested airport stall locks were found on average to have 70 colony-forming units (CFUs) per square inch -- 30 times fewer than the dirtiest spot on the list.
Travelmath.com
5. Seatbelt buckle —
Buckle up -- then grab the hand sanitizer. According to Travelmath's bacteria tests, the airplane seatbelt buckle was found on average to contain 230 CFUs per square inch.
Travelmath.com
4. Airplane lavatory buttons —
The flush button was found to have 265 CFU per square inch -- far fewer than the plane's overhead vents and tray tables.
Travelmath.com
3. Overhead air vents —
The price of turning off that not-so-fresh air? Overhead vents were found to have 285 CFUs per square inch, slightly more than the lavatory flush button.
Travelmath.com
2. Drinking fountains —
You may want to ignore that urge to grab a sip at the ol' airport watering hole. Drinking fountain buttons were found to have 1,240 CFUs per square inch.
Travelmath.com
1. Tray tables —
Lingering on well after the aftertaste of your bad economy class meal has faded, bacteria love to breed on that plastic tray table you ate it off of.
