By now, most of us know that we can avoid ingesting pesticide by buying organic fruits and vegetables. However, you can avoid exposure to a greater source of pesticide by adopting one simple practice. Leave your shoes at the door.
An EPA study, reported in Environmental Science & Technology proved that pesticides can be tracked into residences on shoes. People and pets who walk on pesticide-treated lawns can pick up pesticides like the herbicide 2, 4-D, for up to a week after application, the study showed. The study found that “track-in” exposures of pesticides may exceed those from the best-known source–pesticide residues on non-organic fresh fruits and vegetables.
Pesticides are designed to control or kill unwanted organisms, insects, rodents, weeds and more. If you don’t want it on your food, why track it into your home?
In Asia, the custom of removing ones shoes in the home is said to have derived from the desire to protect and keep clean the handmade tatami mats which are used while dining or sleeping. Protecting the health of you family and pets is the best reason to remove your shoes when you come home.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/ask_treehugger_23.php