Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh recently reported that showers release toxic chemicals into the air. So while we merrily lather away and sing our hearts out, these chemicals in the water are quietly turning into vapors, exposing us to chemical concentrations up to 10 times greater than we would receive by drinking the water.

If that doesn’t scare you, look at another common activity: handling money. According to two University of Louisville scientists, 13 percent of all coins and 42 percent of paper money carry infectious organisms.

Bill Bryson, The Saturday Evening Post, September, 1988, “Life’s Little Gambles”