The article, “A Natural Environment Can Be Good for Allergies”, discusses a study conducted at the University of Helsinki in Finland that investigated the correlation between microbe diversity and allergies. The study suggests that living in a rural environment may lead to a lower likelihood of developing allergies.
Researchers tested the forearms of 118 teenagers for microbes present on the skin and examined the diversity of microbes. The teenagers’ living conditions were also surveyed. Living with pets, exposure to smoking, and environment around the home such as forests and agriculture, were some of the conditions surveyed. Researchers found a connection between the environment around the home and allergies. Homes with large biodiversity, such as those near forests or agriculture, correlated with participants having lower rates of allergies. Home environments near urban centers and water correlated with participants having higher rates of allergies.
Participants, who lived in a home surrounded by a high biodiversity environment, had a large diversity of microbes on their skin. Researchers believe that the large diversity of microbes is the cause of the lower allergy rates.
Researchers suggest that this is due to the increased presence of “good/friendly” microbes that protect the immune system against inflammatory disorders. For example, Acinetobacter is a bacterium that lives on the skin and communicates with the immune system to ignore allergens. This bacterium is an important indicator of whether children will or will not develop allergies.
Future studies may investigate the correlations between microbe diversity and medical conditions such as depression and other diseases.