Named the item that is 40 times dirtier than a toilet seat at a train station

Scientists have discovered that the most contaminated item during travel is suitcase wheels, which have tens of times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

A group of researchers conducted a thorough analysis of ten suitcases, taking samples from the wheels and bases of both soft and hard models in the toilets of London airport. The results were truly shocking: hundreds of colonies of bacteria and fungi were found on each tested wheel, significantly exceeding the contamination levels of ordinary toilets, reports Daily Mail.

The identified microorganisms pose a real health threat, capable of causing food poisoning, infections, and respiratory diseases. Laboratory studies have shown that about 400 bacterial colonies are found on three square centimeters of a suitcase wheel - less than on a credit card, but almost 40 times more than on a regular toilet seat, where approximately 10 colonies are found.

"Suitcases, especially their wheels and bottom, are magnets for microbes that can overcome microbes even from a public toilet," Amy-May Pointer, a microbiologist who led the study, told Travel+Leisure.

According to data published in InsureandGo, the base of the suitcase is also a breeding ground for bacteria - about 350 colony-forming units (CFU) per three square centimeters.

The study found that soft-sided suitcases pose a greater danger compared to hard models, as the soft material better retains moisture and dirt, creating ideal conditions for mold growth.

Of particular concern is the common habit of travelers placing suitcases on hotel beds, tables, and closet shelves when unpacking, unknowingly transferring bacteria to these surfaces.

Microscopic examination of wheel swabs revealed dense accumulations of mold and bacteria, including remnants of human and animal excrement, black fluffy spores, and microbes secreted from the skin.

Although the study does not indicate that suitcases pose a deadly danger, it emphasizes that they are one of the most ignored sources of contamination in everyday life.

"This study is more about prevention. If possible, don't roll your suitcase through obviously contaminated places. For example, don't drag it into a toilet cubicle if possible. The less dirt that gets on the wheels, the less you'll have to worry about it later," recommends microbiologist Pointer.