Shoeless House: Microplastics & Toxic Chemicals Transforming My Family

Tracey Woodruff’s Mission to Safeguard Fertility

Tracey Woodruff directs the Program on Reproductive Health & the Environment at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research investigates how microplastics and toxic chemicals affect fertility and child development.

Personal Practices that Reduce Chemical Exposure

• Shying away from the habit of removing shoes while growing up becomes a family ritual when she had children.
• Her research has prompted her to adopt a daily practice: removing shoes before entering the house to stop tracking outdoor contaminants.
• By combining family life with scientific inquiry, she has become more immersed in methods that lower exposures to toxic chemicals.

How to Cut Microplastic Exposure at Home

One simple, yet effective, method is to remove shoes before coming inside the house. This small step helps prevent the influx of microplastics and other harmful chemicals from outside, creating a cleaner, safer indoor environment for everyone – especially for those who are trying to preserve fertility.

What’s on your shoes

Microplastics: A Hidden Threat to Everyday Life

Microplastics are no longer confined to the ocean. They are present in the air we breathe, in the food we eat, and in the water we drink. Even the tiny fragments can find their way onto our shoes through tire wear or run‑off from garbage.

Common Sources of Microplastic Exposure

• Tire Wear – The rubbing of tires on asphalt releases microscopic particles that can settle on sneakers and other footwear.
• Urban Run‑off – Plastic debris from litter and vehicle runoff can wash onto your shoes, carrying chemical additives that may penetrate the skin.
• Household Dust – Everyday particles that settle on surfaces can contain microplastic grains.

Health Implications Revealed by a Systematic Review

Last year, I co‑authored a comprehensive review that synthesized a wide range of studies on microplastics. The findings highlighted several significant health risks:

• Reproductive Health – Exposure to microplastics could affect sperm quality and overall reproductive function.
• Inflammation – Chronic inflammatory responses were observed in studies involving microplastic particles.
• Cancer Risk – Potential increases in the risk of lung and colon cancers were noted in human and animal investigations.

Why This Matters to You

Microplastics are an invisible component of our everyday environment. They can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion, or dermal absorption of the associated chemicals. Understanding these pathways allows individuals and policymakers to take informed steps toward reducing microplastic pollution and protecting public health.

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It just became a habit

Adopting a Shoe‑Removing Routine

Over time the habit of leaving shoes at the door grew gently. It was not a hard rule; it simply settled into everyday life.

What Our Home Looks Like

• A dedicated closet for shoes
• A bench that doubles as a lounging spot
• A cabinet that keeps the footgear neatly organized

Family Members Who Embrace the Practice

• My son took the initiative to remove shoes upon entering the house. He spent a couple of months in Japan and now owns a pair of house slippers. His diligence reflects his cultural sensitivity.
• Other kids also take off shoes when coming inside. For them, it is embedded in their upbringing.
• My husband’s parents originated from Japan. They never wear shoes while they are inside a home. Bringing the children to Japan during their early years further strengthened the connection to this heritage.

Living Arrangements Outside the Family Home

My daughter and her roommates maintain the same shoe‑off habit in her townhouse. They have a large, shoe‑display shelf that serves as a visual reminder.

Complications: Dogs and Tracking

Inside our primary residence we have dogs that track debris around the living area. This presents a challenge, and at present I do not have a definitive solution for the complication.