Shared trays for shoes, laptops can raise health concerns: Expert

New Delhi: Using the same tray for carrying shoes and personal belongings at airport security check-ins can raise cross-contamination risks, warned experts on Sunday, after a senior executive recently flagged the "unsanitary practice" being carried out at Bengaluru airport.

The majority of airports in India ask passengers wearing boots and shoes with heels to remove them and drop them off for scanning. While there are trays that come with an image of shoes, people often use the same trays for dropping personal items.

Taking to social media platform X.com, Anand Nichani, the managing director of Magniflex India, this week called out against the practice of using the same trays to keep passengers’ shoes and personal items such as phones and laptops for being scanned at airport security check-in.

"The same trays that carry our muddy shoes are used for our personal items at airport security! This is NOT okay! Bengaluru airport, it's time to make dedicated trays for shoes MANDATORY for a cleaner and more pleasant experience for everyone!", posted Nichani, who was flying from Bengaluru to Delhi.

While Bengaluru International Airport responded by saying “We've positioned dedicated shoe trays adjacent to all of the X-rays for ease”, Nichani said it has to be made mandatory.

Dr. Aravinda S N, Lead Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru, told IANS that “using the same trays for shoes and personal belongings can lead to the transfer of harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, from footwear to personal items. This can result in the spread of illnesses, including influenza, norovirus, and MRSA”.