Here are some youtube videos, or articles that caught my eye - from the New York Times, Consumer Reports, Popular Science etc.
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Take off shoes indoors to limit exposure to micro-plastics
The recent Washington Post article on taking shoes off in the house emphasizes the hygiene concerns associated with wearing shoes indoors.
* It highlights the fact that shoe bottoms carry a significant amount of bacteria and viruses. This includes harmful pathogens like E. coli and fecal matter, which can be tracked into the home and potentially spread illness.
* The article also acknowledges that this is a deeply ingrained, emotional subject with varying cultural norms.
Essentially, the Post article supports the "shoes off" policy based on hygiene and health considerations.
The effect of removing shoes rule on particle concentrations and dust composition in schools. 2020
"Finnish schools, shoes are taken off by coat racks near the classrooms (shoe schools). The new course of action is to take shoes off right when entering the building (sock schools)...concentrations in corridors were significantly higher in shoe schools compared to sock schools...elemental concentrations (Li, Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb) in settled dust were also higher in shoe schools compared to sock schools"
"Contaminants tracked in from outside, such as lawn pesticides and lead dust from work or home renovation: Use a doormat, remove shoes at the door, and plant shrubs and grass to help reduce dust levels and limit the potential to track dust indoors."
"...estimated that between 9,000 and 400,000 metric tonnes of microplastics are released from shoes globally per year from regular use...trail running events deposit significant plastic fibres and rubber fragments onto soil...100 runners release about 425,000 rubber particles over a 10 km race...85% of used shoes in the UK were sent to the dump rather than recycled or reused...once they're in the landfill, shoe plastics degrade...and release ethylene and methane, two potent greenhouse gases"
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