Well, you still don't want them getting anthrax or botulism or whatever. And many people live in cities, where the soil may have substantial lead levels. As a

Well, you still don't want them getting anthrax or botulism or whatever. And many people live in cities, where the soil may have substantial lead levels. As a parent, I tried to thread a path between cleanliness and exposure. Didn't worry too much about the kid sucking on furniture at home, but did keep her from licking the subway car, for example. :-P To a certain extent it's just about not going to all the extra trouble of sanitizing everything.