If you know me or subscribe to my newsletter then you know that I’m a certified germaphobe. I’ve been wiping down airplane seats, tray tables and other high-touch surfaces for over two decades. I’ve also carried and worn face masks long before the pandemic, whether I was feeling under the weather or my seatmate was. So you can imagine how relieved I was to read a recent Northwestern University study showing that airplane and hospital air is cleaner than you might think.
The study, the first of its kind, used an unexpected tool, worn face masks, to monitor indoor air. Scientists discovered that the air on airplanes and in hospitals mostly contains harmless microbes typically associated with human skin. In other words, the invisible particles floating around in these high-traffic spaces are far less menacing than many of us germ-conscious travelers might imagine.
Here’s how they did it. Initially, the research team led by Northwestern’s Erica M. Hartmann tried to study airplane air using HEPA filters from aircraft cabins. But these filters are expensive, difficult to remove and impractical for frequent testing. So, the researchers got creative. They recruited volunteers to wear face masks on both domestic and international flights and then sent the masks to the lab for DNA analysis. They did the same with hospital workers who naturally wear masks during their shifts to compare microbial communities in two different but highly controlled indoor environments.
The results were reassuring. Across all samples, the team detected 407 distinct microbial species. The majority were harmless bacteria from human skin or common environmental microbes. While a few potentially pathogenic microbes appeared, their abundance was extremely low and there were no signs of active infection. The study even confirmed that the types of microbes found on airplanes and in hospitals were remarkably similar, showing that the main source is not the environment itself but people.
Hartmann’s research also highlighted that face masks can serve as an inexpensive, non-invasive method to monitor air quality in confined spaces, a clever repurposing that could have lasting applications beyond the pandemic.
So what does this mean for travelers? For starters, it’s one less thing to stress about when boarding a plane or visiting a hospital. While hand hygiene remains crucial for preventing infections, you can breathe a little easier knowing that the air you’re inhaling is not a microbial minefield. And if you’re still nervous, a mask or HEPA-equipped travel accessory can add an extra layer of comfort.
Science shows that some of the places we worry about most are actually safer than we imagined. It’s a relief to read that flying is pretty safe when it comes to germs, but I will still bring my disinfecting wipes and face masks just in case.