Those airport security bins carry more germs than the toilets
Sep 5, 2018, 5:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Those airport security bins carry more germs than the toilets
The lead authors of the article, who hailed from Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare and the University of Nottingham, concluded that the screening trays "appear commonly contaminated" and that they are one of the surfaces at an airport where passengers are most likely to pick up harmful viruses.
"We found the highest frequency of respiratory viruses on plastic trays used in security check areas for depositing hand-carried luggage and personal items," the scientists wrote in their journal article. "These boxes typically cycle with high frequency to subsequent passengers, and are typically seized with a wide palm surface area and strong grip."
"We found the highest frequency of respiratory viruses on plastic trays used in security check areas for depositing hand-carried luggage and personal items," the scientists wrote in their journal article. "These boxes typically cycle with high frequency to subsequent passengers, and are typically seized with a wide palm surface area and strong grip."
The results, they said, demonstrated that airports can serve as a potential risk zone for an "emerging pandemic threat" — a prospect that has already become a major concern in the aftermath of the 2002 SARS outbreak and the 2014 Ebola epidemic.
Sep 5, 2018, 7:23 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
This study should be to the absolute surprise of no one. Moral of the story is that you should wash/sanitize your hands after touching any high use surface - whether that's security bins, public transportation handrails, or heavy use public door handles - before touching your face/nose/eyes or eating.
Sep 6, 2018, 2:19 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: FRA
Posts: 229
Sep 6, 2018, 7:23 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,424
I can't understand that, and never wonder - in many cases I have already started to change them without the request. It helps to protect me, as much as it helps to protect you.
Sep 7, 2018, 7:34 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,082
TSA in all of its corporate wisdom is calling for people to remove food items from carry-on bags on occasion. The packaging those items are in contact the bins, then later when the person goes to consume those items they touch the package and very likely touch the food product. Given those circumstances it would be almost impossible to prevent some cross contamination.
I realize bins cannot be kept sanitized at all times but I wonder if the bins are ever cleaned? Perhaps at least a daily sanitation program would be in order. Or perhaps a completely different system for screening carry-on items where bins are eliminated.
Sep 7, 2018, 9:14 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I agree don't lick the bins and wash hands often. I have to wonder just how many people clear screening then immediately go and wash their hands?
TSA in all of its corporate wisdom is calling for people to remove food items from carry-on bags on occasion. The packaging those items are in contact the bins, then later when the person goes to consume those items they touch the package and very likely touch the food product. Given those circumstances it would be almost impossible to prevent some cross contamination.
I realize bins cannot be kept sanitized at all times but I wonder if the bins are ever cleaned? Perhaps at least a daily sanitation program would be in order. Or perhaps a completely different system for screening carry-on items where bins are eliminated.
TSA in all of its corporate wisdom is calling for people to remove food items from carry-on bags on occasion. The packaging those items are in contact the bins, then later when the person goes to consume those items they touch the package and very likely touch the food product. Given those circumstances it would be almost impossible to prevent some cross contamination.
I realize bins cannot be kept sanitized at all times but I wonder if the bins are ever cleaned? Perhaps at least a daily sanitation program would be in order. Or perhaps a completely different system for screening carry-on items where bins are eliminated.
But the reality is the world is a dirty place.
It wouldn't be hard to build a UV sanitizer into the bin return feed on the automated security lanes. It only takes about 10 seconds of exposure to sanitize a surface with high intensity UV light - and perhaps not every bin would get that every return cycle, it would make them much more sanitary.
Either way this falls down the list of things pretty low on my priority list when it comes to the TSA.
Sep 7, 2018, 10:01 am
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,648
Cleaned or not, every public place is nasty. I'm a mild germaphobe, but I accept it. Your bag you place on the floor under the seat is in contact with the carpet, when shoes have come into contact with human waste in the Lav, the list goes on....
Sep 9, 2018, 1:21 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: UAL IK;Marriott Plat Elite;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Gold;Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,567
Hence the reason I put my cpap into a plastic bag and do not reuse the bag when asked to remove from its case and place in the bins
Sep 9, 2018, 10:31 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,638
What I do not do every day (or ever) is empty the contents of my bag onto a filthy floor - things I handle all day, every day, things that come in contact with every thing else in my bag. I don't dump my eyeglass case on a filthy floor and then toss it back in next to my handkerchief, wallet, keys and meds, things I handle all day long.
As we enter the flu season, it's a timely reminder that TSA's processes force us to expose ourselves to germs in ways we wouldn't ordinarily.
Sep 9, 2018, 11:46 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
However, most of that 6 lbs. is germs/bacteria that are your own and to which you've become immune. It's the germs/bacteria from others that are the danger.
Sep 10, 2018, 6:57 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The TSA is a disease-spreading vector indeed, and the TSA policies and practices make matters worse than they need to be.
Sep 10, 2018, 7:19 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526