Journeys with germs: What are the dirtiest things on an airplane?

Karla Cripps
By Karla Cripps, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 3:22 PM EDT, Mon September 7, 2015
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.
6. Airport washroom stall locks —
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
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.
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
The flush button was found to have 265 CFU per square inch -- far fewer than the plane's overhead vents and tray tables.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Travelmath.com
What are the dirtiest things on an airplane?

Story highlights

Website Travelmath.com sent a microbiologist to take 26 bacteria samples from five airports and four flights

Lab results found airplane tray tables to be the dirtiest of all tested surfaces

All 26 samples were negative for the presence of fecal coliforms such as E. coli

CNN  — 

There’s no better way to test your body’s immune system than by subjecting it to air travel.

With all those enclosed spaces, recirculated air and non-stop streams of peo