A new study indicates that how we sanitize for germs can determine how at risk we are from catching a cold from a virus or bacteria.
Decontaminating subway trains with a probiotic-based cleaning solution was found far more effective than chlorine-based cleaners at killing pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19.
This was the conclusion after a 12-week study that began in September 2021 comparing two cleaning methods in Italian trains, according to results published on March 30 in Microbiome. This seems to validate pre-pandemic concerns that over-sanitation could be driving microbial adaptation, which is an issue of concern because it can lead to more virulent pathogens while lowering human resistance. The use of harsh chemicals is also toxic to humans and detrimental to the environment, the study pointed out….