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Additional file 8: Supplementary Figure 2. Taxonomic composition of control samples. Relative abundance of eight control samples is presented here, prepared from swabs dipped (exposed) in 102 E.coli culture, 106 E.coli culture, indoor air, outdoor air, blank culture broth, one blank DNA extraction buffer (EB buffer), one distilled water and one sterile 0.85% saline used in the lab space.

Since the advent of soap, personal hygiene practices have revolved around removal, sterilization, and disinfection—both of visible soil and microscopic organisms—for a myriad of cultural, aesthetic, or health-related reasons. Cleaning methods and products vary widely in their recommended use, effectiveness, risk to users or building occupants, environmental sustainability, and ecological impact. Advancements in science and technology have facilitated in-depth analyses of the indoor microbiome, and studies in this field suggest that the traditional “scorched-earth cleaning” mentality—that surfaces must be completely sterilized and prevent microbial establishment—may contribute to long-term human health consequences. Moreover, the materials, products, activities, and microbial communities indoors all contribute to, or remove, chemical species to the indoor environment. This review examines the effects of cleaning with respect to the interaction of chemistry, indoor microbiology, and human health. Published version