Remember boy bugs/girl bugs, cooties when you were a kid? Ahh the wisdom of the young!
"Humans harbor diverse microbial assemblages in and on our bodies, and these distinctly human-associated bacteria can be readily detected inside of buildings on surfaces, in dust, and as bioaerosols. Human-associated bacteria disperse into and throughout the built environment by three primary mechanisms: (1) direct human contact with indoor surfaces; (2) bioaerosol particle emission from our breath, clothes, skin and hair; and (3) resuspension of indoor dust containing previously shed human skin cells, hair and other bacteria-laden particles.
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Our data make clear that an occupied space is microbially distinct from an unoccupied one, and reveal for the first time that individuals occupying a space can emit their own distinct personal microbial cloud. It is unsurprising that humans leave their microbial signature behind in the built environment or that inactive humans emit particles, but our study suggests that bacterial emissions from a relatively inactive person, sitting at a desk for instance, have a strong influence on the bacteria circulating in an enclosed space and on surrounding surfaces."
Full article: peerj.com/articles/1258
Another good reason to practice good hand hygiene before you eat or touch your eyes, nose or lips...
Neil
Photo: Bugs are everywhere if you look closely enough
