Everything you need to know about boogers

Come on, admit you do it.

Whether in the company of a spouse or in secret when you think no one is watching, we all poke ourselves in the nose. And the others primates do it too.

The social stigma around the cleaning out of nose is very widespread. But do we really have to do it…and where do we put our boogers ?

As scientists who have researched environmental contaminants – in our homes, workplaces, gardens – we have a good idea of ​​what you are really handling when you happily slide your finger down your nostril.

Here’s what you need to know before you take action.

What’s in a booger?

Nose picking is a natural habit; children, who have not yet learned social norms, quickly realize that the compatibility between a finger and a nostril is pretty good. But there is much more than snot in there.

During the approximately 22,000 daily respiratory cyclesbooger-forming mucus is an essential biological filter for capturing dust and allergens before they enter our airways, where they can cause inflammationasthma and other long-term lung problems.

The cells in your nasal passages, called goblet cells (so named because of their cup-shaped appearance), produce mucus to trap the virusthem bacteria and dust containing potentially hazardous substances such as leadI’asbestos and the pollen.

Nasal mucus and its antibody and enzymes constitute the immune defense system the body’s first line against infections.

The nasal cavity also has its own microbiome. Sometimes these natural populations can be disturbed, resulting in various ailments, such as rhinitis. But in general, the germs from our noses help repel invaders, fighting them off on a mucus battlefield.

Dust, germs, and allergens captured in your mucus end up being ingested as it drains down your throat.

This is usually not a problem, but it can exacerbate environmental exposure to certain contaminants.

For example, lead – a common neurotoxin in the house dust and the garden soil – most effectively penetrates the body of children by ingestion and digestion.

Thus, you risk aggravating particular environmental toxic exposures if you sniff or eat boogers instead of expelling them.

What does science say about the risks of booger hunting?

the Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus, sometimes abbreviated as S. aureus) is a germ that can cause a variety of mild to severe infections. Studies show that it is often found in the nose (we speak of nasal carriage).

Here is what a study found :

” Nose cleaning is associated with nasal carriage of S. aureus. Its role in nasal carriage may well be a determining factor in some cases. Overcoming the sticking-in-the-nose habit could facilitate S. aureus decolonization strategies. »

Picking your nose may also be associated with an increased risk of transmitting Staphylococcus aureus to wounds, where it poses a more serious risk.

The antibiotics do not always work on this bacterium. An article has show that :

” The resistance The increasing use of antibiotics requires health care providers to assess their patients’ sticking their noses habits and educate them about effective ways to prevent this practice. »

Nose cleaning could also be a vector of transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniaea common cause of pneumonia among other infections.

In other words, sticking a finger in your nose is a great way to drive the germs into your body, or spreading them around your environment with your questionably clean finger.

There is also a risk of injury andabrasions inside the nostrils, which can allow disease-causing bacteria to invade your body. The compulsive picking of one’s nose to the point of self-harm is called rhinotillexomania.

Well, I did. And now ?

Some eat them (the technical term is mucosophagia, which means “to feed on mucus”). Besides the fact that eating a booger is disgusting, it’s like ingesting all those germs in the mucus, those metals toxins and those environmental contaminants we talked about above.

Others wipe them on the nearest object, a small gift that another person will later discover. Disgusting…and it’s a great way to spread germs.

Some more hygienic and respectable people use a tissue to collect everything, then throw it in a trash can or in the toilet.

This is probably one of the less bad options, if you have to pick your nose at all costs. Just be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after blowing your nose or poking your nose, because until the mucus has completely dried, infectious viruses can linger on hands and fingers.

No advice in the world will stop you from continuing your quest

In secret, in the car or on napkins, we all do. And to be honest, it’s really satisfying.

But let’s pay tribute to the tireless work done by our remarkable noses, mucus and sinus cavities, these amazing biological adaptations. And let’s not forget that they are trying to protect us.

Your nose is working overtime to keep you healthy, so don’t make it harder by getting your filthy fingers stuck in it. Don’t play spoilsport. Blow quietly, discard the tissue thoughtfully, and wash your hands immediately afterwards.