4 days ago
How di simple habit of removing your shoes wen you enta house fit contribute to your good health
My mother always get one rule: no shoes inside her house. E no mata who you be. Family member, neighbour or guest, you gatz comot your shoe bifor you enta house.
Wen I dey small, I bin tink say na one of di many manners. But as I grow older (and wiser), I realise say no be obsession wit cleanliness. Na about health, safety and hygiene.
Cleanliness dey often associated wit dirty wey eye fit see. But wen, if na shoes, wetin dey under di surface dey microscopic and dem dey far more dangerous dan mud or dry grass.
Outdoor shoes dey carry bacteria, allergens, and toxic chemicals, e dey lead to serious health problems.
Tink about wia your shoes go evri day: public restrooms, sidewalks, hospital hallways, and lawns wey dem don treat wit chemicals like herbicides and insecticides to control weeds and pests.
According to one study by di University of Arizona in di United States, 96% of shoes test positive for coliform bacteria, wey dem dey commonly find inside poo poo.
And even more worryingly, 27% contain "E. coli," one bacteria linked to various infections, some of dem dey potentially deadly.
While some strains of E. coli dey harmless, odas dey produce Shiga toxins, wey fit cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, one potentially deadly condition wey fit cause kidney failure.
Children under five dey at risk due to dia developing immune systems and di fact say dem dey always put dia hands for dia mouths.
But E. coli no be di only germ wey dey enta your living room. Shoes dey also collect clostridium, one bacteria wey pipo know to dey cause painful and sometimes severe diarrhea, and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, one drug-resistant "superbug" wey fit cause deep skin infections, pneumonia, or even deadly bloodstream infections.
No be only germs
Di health risks go beyond bacteria.
Shoe also dey act as carrier of chemicals and allergens. Studies don show say outdoor footwear fit contain pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals like lead, e dey pose serious health risks, especially for young children and pets.
Exposure to lead, wey dem find inside dust or soil, dey harmful for children becos e fit affect dia brain development and cause lifelong cognitive problems.
In addition, allergens such as pollen fit stick to di di soles, causing allergies and respiratory problems.
Even more alarming, di asphalt sealants wey dem dey use on roads contain carcinogenic compounds.
One U.S. study reveal say di dem fit find dis chemicals indoors and e go dey for in di indoor dust, sometimes at levels 37 times higher dan di one wey dem find outdoors.
And e dey spend di most time for ground. Children and pets.
Children crawl, play and dey often put dia hands to dia mouths. Pets dey lick dia paws afta dem walk on contaminated surfaces. Wearing outdoor shoes indoors fit increase dia exposure to harmful substances.
Clean floors, healthy homes
Based on my evidence, my mother rules no dey bad anymore. In fact, na one of di simplest and most effective public health measures you fit adopt for your house.
Comot your shoes wen you enta, no be only dirt you dey prevent from staining di carpet, but you also significantly reduce your family exposure to germs and harmful chemicals.
And e no dey difficult to do. Leave one space for shoes near di entrance. You fit also put shoe rack or basket, or even comfortable slippers for guests.
To tell pipo to comot dia shoe before dem enta your house fit dey somehow at first, but e dey easy to forget say sometin as routine as to enta di house fit carry hidden risks.
*Manal Mohammed na Professor of Medical Microbiology at di University of Westminster, UK.
We publish dis article in The Conversation and reproduce am here under di Creative Commons license.
