Mucus is mostly made of water and a polysaccharide called mucin which makes the liquid sticky. Other substances are also present including enzymes, co-enzymes and antibodies which kick-start the immune system into action. And about a quarter of a liter of ‘snot’ is produced every day - more if you have a cold as you need to get rid of more germs.
Mucus tends to start off as a clear or white liquid, but it can be colored by dirt, debris, cigarette tar, and enzymes that are responsible for the production of antiseptic chemicals that fight germs.
Everybody gets boogers, and just as well too, as they are formed from a substance that performs a vital job in the body.
It all starts with mucus, the sticky, slimy and viscous liquid that’s made by the mucus membranes inside your nose. A more colloquial name for mucus is snot. And it’s part of your body’s front line defence system against infection.
Mucus is an effective barrier that prevents your lungs from getting damaged. Every time you breathe in through your nose you draw in a myriad of tiny particles including dust, dirt, pollen, bacteria, and viruses. If they were to reach your lungs they could cause irritation, infection, and possibly serious damage. But the mucus surrounds these small foreign bodies and stops them from getting to places that could cause you harm.