"Employees must wash their hands after using the rest rooms."
"Go wash that dirt off your hands."
We've all heard it.
Nearly everybody in the western world is caught in the germ cleanse, or the belief that bacteria is the harmful bad guy and that people should strive to make themselves as clean as possible to avoid disease. However, what these people don't understand is that bacteria aren't actually all that bad. In fact, the average human body is composed of about 90% bacterial cells. These bacterial cells are significant in aiding with digestion, and have shown strong links to immune health and allergy prevention.
Similarly, the soil of the Adirondacks is not just all dirt. Yes, there are probably worms and other creepy crawlies squirming around under the ground, but what we don't realize is that a single teaspoon of Adirondack soil can contain over 5,000 different species and over six billion different living things. That's nearly as many living things in one teaspoon of soil as there are humans on this planet! Additionally, soil bacteria plays a significant role in breaking down built-up detritus into gases and nutrients that can be reused by plants.
With all of the good that certain bacterial species provide for our species and our planet, it is ridiculous how little we know about our distant prokaryotic relatives. The next time you go to take antibiotics, wash your hands, or fertilize your lawn, consider the implications of your actions on the microbial ecosystem present in that environment. And by all means, let your child play in the dirt. It will actually benefit their health.
Sources:
The Adirondack Wild Center
It's really interesting to see deeper and more hidden parts of the living world around us. We really depend on microbes more than we think. I thought of this a lot at Essex Farm, how Mark was so willing to expose his body (and his children!!!) to these crazy devastating bacteria in the manure and the ground water. But all in all, it must just make him stronger in the end.
ReplyDeleteIt is astounding that a teaspoon of soil can contain over 5,000 different species! Thanks for that fun fact. I think it is important to educate people about bacteria because, as you mentioned, it's easy to see them as the "bad guy." In fact, it would be good if each time people take antibiotics, they also take probiotics. I used to think my father was crazy for making me take them, but now I understand.
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