In some parts of the world, it is considered normal for people to not take off their shoes when entering the house, and this act has become a tradition. But a research group has tried to find a clear answer to the question of whether shoes should be taken off by examining contaminants in indoor environments. As might be expected, the general decision is to keep contaminants from outside the home as much as possible.
Since people spend up to ninety percent of their time indoors, the subject of shoes is of great importance, although most people do not think about it. While the focus of policy on issues such as soil, air quality and environmental health risks is often outdoors, interest in indoor air quality is growing.
According to the researchers, the substances accumulating in our homes are not only dust, dirt, shed skin or hair from people and pets. Close to a third of these are made up of substances coming from the wind or shoes and external environments.
Some of the microorganisms found in shoes and floors include drug-resistant pathogens, including infectious agents associated with hospitals. In addition, there are cancer-causing toxic substances such as asphalt road residue, endocrine disrupting plant chemicals and many similar substances.
paid particular attention to indoor levels of potentially toxic metals (such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead), one of the focuses of research conducted in 35 countries around the world. Since these substances are odorless and colorless, they can cause very dangerous results such as lead poisoning, and it is not easy to determine how much is found in our homes.
Investigations have shown that there is a very strong link between lead in homes and lead in the soil of home gardens. The biggest reason for this is thought to be soil residues carried by pet paws and shoes, as well as soil entering the house with the wind.
While the research indicates that there is no harm in leaving shoes at the door in general and there are many more benefits, it recommends keeping a separate pair of house shoes and changing them at the door if you need to wear shoes at home.
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