We may not follow all of the advice our parents gave us when we were younger – but it turns out your mother’s request to “take those shoes off” as you entered the family home was on the money.
New research by scientists has shown the dirt we track in on our shoes could actually be harmful to our health.
What contaminants are in your home and how did they get there?
About a third of the dust and dirt inside your house is from outside, either blown in or tramped in on the bottom of shoes.
“Some of the microorganisms present on shoes and floors are drug-resistant pathogens, including hospital-associated infectious agents (germs) that are very difficult to treat,” said Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist at the Environment Protection Authority Victoria; and Gabriel Filippelli, Chancellor’s Professor of Earth Sciences and Executive Director at Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute.
“Add in cancer-causing toxins from asphalt road residue and endocrine-disrupting lawn chemicals, and you might view the filth on your shoes in a new light.”
The scientists added a strong focus of their work has involved assessing levels of potentially toxic metals (such as arsenic, cadmium and lead) inside homes across 35 nations, including Australia.
These contaminants are odourless and colourless. So there is no way of knowing whether the dangers of lead exposure are only in your soils or your water pipes, or if they are also on your living room floor.
“The science suggests a very strong connection between the lead inside your home and that in your yard soil,” they said.
A good reason to ditch those shoes at the door.
