Natalia Chi
Mark Patrick Taylor He is EPA Victoria’s Chief Environmental Scientist and Professor Emeritus. Macquarie University. Gabriel Filippelli He is the Dean Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director of the Institute for Environmental Resilience at Indiana University. Ipui.
If you’ve stepped on mud or something nasty, you’ll probably clean your shoes (pick it up after your dog!).But every time I go home take off one’s shoes at the entrance?
Many people don’t.what you are to many drag the bottom of the shoe That’s the first thing that pops into my head when I get home.
We are environmental chemists and have spent a decade investigating the indoor environment and the pollutants that people are exposed to in their homes. We are investigating the indoor environment. dust safe programwhen it comes to the question of whether shoes should be worn or taken off in the house, science leans towards the latter.
What contaminants are in your home and how did they get there?
With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, the question of whether to wear shoes or not in the house is no small one.
Policy focus is usually on the outdoor environment, including soil, air quality, and environmental public health risks. However, there is increasing regulatory interest in the following issues: indoor air quality.
problem To construct There’s more than just dust and dirt from human and pet hair and skin in your home.
About one-third of from outsidebe blown away, or trampled On the soles of aggressive shoes.
Among the microorganisms present in shoes and floors, drug-resistant pathogensincluding hospital-associated infectious agents (bacteria) that are very difficult to treat.
add carcinogenic toxins asphalt road residue and endocrine disruptors lawn chemicalsThen you might be able to see the dirt on your shoes in a new light.
Indoor troublemaker roll call
Our work includes measuring and evaluating exposure to a variety of toxic substances found in the home, including:
Our work focuses on the next level of assessment. Potentially toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, etc.) in the house opposite 35 countries.
These contaminants, and most importantly the dangerous neurotoxin lead, are colorless and odorless. Therefore, there is no way to know if the risk of lead exposure is only in the body. soil or your water pipeor those too your living room floor.
of chemistry suggesting a very strong connection between internal leads. Things in the soil of the house and garden.
The most likely reason for this relationship is soil that has been blown out of the yard or trodden on by shoes or the furry paws of your adorable pet.
This connection speaks to the priority of ensuring that substances from the outdoor environment stay there. (Have a hint here. )
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recent wall street journal article I would argue that the shoes at home are not so bad. The author pointed out that Escherichia coli Dangerous bacteria that occur in the gut of many mammals, including humans, are so widespread that they are almost everywhere. So it’s no wonder it sticks to the soles (his 96% of the soles, as the article pointed out).
But let’s be clear. It’s good to be scientific and stick to this terminology, Escherichia coliwhich is, more simply, bacteria associated with poop.
Whether it’s ours or Fido’s, exposure to high levels can cause severe symptoms. Quite frankly, it’s just awful.
Why walk around the house when there is a very easy alternative to taking your shoes off at the door?
After all, the one without shoes wins
So, are there any disadvantages to homes that don’t wear shoes?
Beyond bump your toes sometimes, From an environmental health standpoint, a shoeless home isn’t much of a downside. Leaving your shoes on your doormat also leaves potentially harmful pathogens there.
We all know that prevention is much better than cure, and removing your shoes at the door is a basic and easy preventive activity for many of us.
Need a shoe that supports your feet? Easy. Just prepare “indoor shoes” that you don’t wear outside.
There is also the issue of “sterile housing syndrome,” which refers to an increase in the incidence of allergies among children.some claim to be related to excessively sterile home.
Sure, some dirt is probably beneficial the study It has been shown to help develop the immune system and reduce the risk of allergies.
But there are better and less rude ways than walking around indoors in dirty shoes. Get outside, go hiking and enjoy the great outdoors.
Just don’t bring dirty parts indoors to accumulate and contaminate your home.
This article is reprinted from conversation Under Creative Commons License.read Original work.
