The dirtiest objects are not necessarily the ones you expect. The first example that comes to mind is probably the toilet seat, and if it is true that it contains its share of bacteria (the risk of contracting diseases is lower than you think, however ) it is far from being the most contaminated element of our environment. Indeed, the electronic badge, the computer keyboard or the telephone are ahead of it, and by a long way. This is also the case of an object that we all have to touch when traveling:the security tray in which personal effects must be deposited before boarding a plane. A study published in the scientific journal BMC Infectious Diseases (dedicated to infectious diseases… Bon appétit!) focuses on the most contaminated areas in airports.
The researchers were able to determine that 10% of the areas tested contained viruses, including children's play areas, escalators but also counters where passports are checked and credit card machines. The viruses have been identified as rhinovirus (causing the common cold) and influenza. “Our research aims to educate the public about how viral infections spread says one of the researchers named Jonathan Van Tram. He suggests that airports equip themselves with hand sanitizer dispensers in places where “users are required to touch surfaces repeatedly, before and after passing through security ". It's quite a good idea when you think that we put our phones in these trays and then put them back in our ears... The best thing is to take your own wipes on a trip, your body will will thank!
