Experts have just revealed where the most viruses are located in an airport, and you’ll likely be very surprised by what they have to say.

Believe it or not, researchers say that the plastic trays in security lines are a haven for respiratory viruses. Researchers have found evidence that these bins harbor more pathogens than the flushing button on the airport toilets.

“Yeah. When I walk into the security line and see the TSA agents wearing those gloves, I’m like, ‘Don’t touch me with those,'” said Dr. Mark Gendreau, who specializes in aviation medicine.

Researchers descended on the Helsinki Airport to look for viruses on 90 surfaces. Of the eight samples they took from the plastic security trays over the course of three weeks, half of them showed signs of at least one respiratory virus, such as influenza A or a coronavirus that can cause serious respiratory infections.

Surprisingly, not one of the 42 samples taken from surfaces around the toilets showed traces of these viruses.

“In the security line, you have the highest opportunities for disease transmission in the airport,” Gendreau warned.

Gendreau went on to say that travelers should wash their hands immediately after going through the security line.

“Absolutely,” Gendreau said. “In my side satchel, I have my laptop, gum and a bottle of hand santizer,” he says. “As soon as I get through security, I always sanitize my hands.”

You should also be very careful about where you put your hands before you have a chance to clean them.

“The trick is to be mindful about not touching your face,” he said. “Eighty percent of all infections are transmitted by your hands: You touch a surface that’s contaminated with a virus and then introduce it into your body by touching your face. Humans touch their eyes, nose or mouth about 200 times a day.”