Subway systems are a popular way of traveling throughout cities, but they’re nowhere near clean and sanitary. As a matter of fact, in 2007 and 2008, biologists from the University of Colorado went to New York City to analyze air samples in subway platforms. The results were… well, let’s just say you’ll be scrambling to find another means of transportation from now on.
The scientists found that around 15% of the particulates in the air were made up of human skin. The majority of these skin cells were from feet and heads of riders, but 12% came from less-than-pleasant body areas, such as belly buttons, armpits, and buttocks. There was also a higher amount of fungus in the subway station, which the biologists attributed to rotting wood on the subway tracks.