An authority in the field has unveiled a clever tactic that might help mitigate some of the less desirable effects of air travel.
Flying isn’t exactly the most enjoyable activity—you’re enclosed in a metal cylinder with a multitude of strangers, soaring through the clouds at 30,000 feet thanks to ancient fossil fuels.
As each plane nears the runway, passengers can be heard quietly hoping, “please let it fly”—and that’s just the concern of the pilots.
Being in a pressurized cabin filled with recycled air doesn’t exactly enhance the journey.
Additionally, consider all the previous passengers who have occupied your seat, touching the same tray table you pull down and the armrests you rest upon.
This aspect of air travel makes it an ideal environment to catch something unwanted, and I’m not referring to the eccentric individual lingering at the airport bar.
Karen Duus, a microbiology and immunology professor at Touro University Nevada, described: “The air around all of us and any other living thing we encounter is surrounded by a small cloud of microbes, skin particles and dust particles, directly from our bodies or clothing.
“As people gather, those little personal clouds mingle, and some of it is exchanged and sticks to us or our clothing as we touch, brush against, sit or lie on different surfaces, pass by people, pets, animals and plants.”
A lot of people disembark from a plane feeling a little grimy, as though the stale air has somehow clung to them.
Dr. Annie DePasquale, a family medicine specialist and founder of Collaborating Docs, highlighted the increased risk if a fellow passenger is unwell.
“Transmission risk increases within about one row or one meter,” she noted. “Coughs and sneezes can still send droplets onto your sleeves, lap or scarf, even with strong cabin filtration in place.”
While it’s true about microbes, there is a simple method to prevent germs from invading your home shared by one individual.
DePasquale advised tossing your travel clothes into the wash immediately upon returning home, recommending: “Drop travel clothes directly into a hamper or washer. Avoid shaking items, which can disperse particles.”
Taking a shower is another good move, as most of us would prefer to wash off that airplane feeling anyway.
If you want to do more, consider cleaning everyday items you frequently touch.
Devices like phones and tablets are good starting points since our fingers transfer all sorts of things onto their screens.
There you have it—have a pleasant flight!