One Health: areas in the living environment of people and animals and their effects on allergy and asthma

Summary

Background

In a world with rapidly increasing urbanization and loss of closeness to nature and biodiversity, the question arises to what extent our environment influences the health of people and animals. Moreover, in recent decades, the prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies has risen sharply. In this context, a direct link between the health of people and their environment seems plausible.

Results

Recent studies indicate that spending time in and being in contact with natural environments such as green spaces and associated soils is highly relevant to the health of people and companion animals. Green spaces in the environment of homes and schools of children and adults could contribute to the reduction of asthma and allergies. Especially the number and the structure of green spaces seems to be crucial. Home gardens and regular contact with animals can also reduce the risk of asthmatic and allergic diseases. In contrast, the increasing number of gray areas (roads, highways, construction sites, etc.) is likely to increase the risk of asthma and allergies. In the case of blue areas (rivers, lakes, sea), no correlation with atopic diseases has been found so far.

Conclusion

Biodiverse green spaces, especially forests and meadows, may offer some protection against asthma and allergies. Contact with soil and ground also seems important for the diverse skin microbiome, especially in childhood, and thus presumably beneficial for the immune system. Therefore, people and man’s best friend, the dog, should spend sufficient time in green, biodiverse environments, despite—or perhaps because—of rapid urbanization. People should also actively create such biodiverse surroundings in their closer living environment. On a broader level, in the spirit of the One Health concept, those responsible for city planning and transportation must take these connections into account.