mapleg

Hmm...let's check cancers of young children. Not a lot of smoking, drinking to excess or being out of shape.

I am not going to digress on causes of cancer for the general population since I am not an oncologist. Suggest you do the same.

Giggleswick

As will other "poor living habits" like having lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, which are treated with steroids, having an organ transplant, which then requires immunosuppressants, or having multiple sclerosis or sickle cell anemia. Really, those people should make wiser choices.

Cyllabus

EPA & FDA verified. Do a little research before you scatter your scorn.

cbn42

Do you have any idea what EPA and FDA "verified" actually mean? The FDA does not actually test products, they just look over test results submitted by the manufacturers. Hundreds of products are recalled every year in the US after receiving FDA approval to be put on the market. FDA verified means nothing more than "this product isn't severely hazardous, and might provide benefits of some sort". I'm not familiar with what the EPA does, but I doubt their standards are much different.

However, if you feel that your "research" (which likely consisted of a Google search leading to the manufacturer's website) is sufficient to establish the safety of these products, then feel free to believe what you wish.

pilotalan

Whatever, dude. you have your axe to grind, and it doesn't matter what I or anyone else says.

Infected surface to face touching is the primary method of transmission of infectious agents. Since I don't have the option of washing my hands at my seat, and since I can't afford the risk of getting sick on a work trip, I'll take a simple step to do some basic cleaning.

Do as you wish, but don't cast aspersions on people who don't agree with your point of view.

sunnyjl

Good grief, everyone's an MD! I always wipe down my armrests, tray, and seat belt. I don't seem to catch anything when traveling...I only catch the crap my family brings home to me when NOT traveling. But if you only saw how black the wipes are after I've wiped down my seat area. It's pretty disgusting. I don't care so much about the cold and flu germs...those are in the air as well. I would just prefer not to ingest whatever nastiness is on that seat. Use your imagination. There are plenty of anecdotes on this site about nasty stuff going on during flights. Toenail clipping, babies getting diapers changed, nose picking. GROSS. I also wash my hands religiously and use hand sanitizer before eating outside the house.

sunnyjl

I DO work in oncology, and part of my job requires review of patient medical records. Unfortunately, common denominators are that the vast majority of the patients I see have been smokers at one time in their life, or were exposed to toxins of some kind at some point. The rest have a poor health history...chronic illnesses, etc. Very few are of the highly active, all-natural, healthy type. Just my observations.

Badenoch

If it makes people feel better to wipe down the seat, tray and armrests then they should carry on and ignore any criticism.

Personally I don't believe it helps and isn't something I do but if it helps make your flight better then I won't criticize.

Jane42

Truly...just out of curiosity...what about those that have had relatives that have passed away from the same disease. Are they more apt to be able to avoid cancer if they live a healthier lifestyle. My understanding it that if this is the case, it is genetics. I know a family where two out of the four sisters have been diagnosed and treated for cancer and they are health nuts.

When I go to the doctors office, they continually are using an antibacterial on their hands before examining me. Why would that be? Could it be because they are seeing several people and do not want to spread any germs. If so, why would it not be ok for the rest of us, if we are being exposed to many germs.

If you are a doctor I would be interested in your comments. Or do you just review records....

wrp96

I think they should feel free to wipe down with basic wet wipes or alcohol wipes, but please stop using anti-bacterial wipes.

lloydah

There's an old British saying "Eat a peck of dirt before you die." Basically it doesn't mean go out and shove your face in the garden, it's to do with building the body's immune system. It seems that the cleaner and more antiseptic we keep our homes/children/workplace the quicker we get ill when anything comes along, like an airborne nasty. It makes total sense to take precautions and wipe surfaces that we have to touch which have already been touched by goodness knows who or what but everything in proportion. An alcohol wipe will clean a surface as well as a nuclearmicrobiotic one which is all you need - a clean surface without upsetting any "micro balances." Frankly I'm more concerned with what gets on my clothes on an aircraft.

jubberly

Seems like some here don't wash their hands after using the toilet...

Stars4SA

I agree!

Fornebufox

Good point. That's why I've taken to washing my hands *after* ordering at a restaurant.

I still don't always remember to wipe down the hard surfaces at my seat, but I'm working on establishing the habit. I usually have some sort of hand wipe from a restaurant in my purse.

I see myself getting more cautious with time; perhaps that's an instinct connected to aging. My immune system probably isn't as robust as it was 20 years ago.

autopilot638

I ate worms and dirt out of the garden as a baby.

I will also carry wet wipes on my flight next week.