A PBS show about asthma reported that kids exposed to animal manure have lower incidences of asthma. The key agent appears to be “endotoxins” in manure. It might be that microbes like fecal coliform, which in certain volumes and types can cause illness, actually either result in boosted immunity.
A study shows that kids who get sunshine (vitamin D), play in the dirt, play with other children, and are exposed to pets or other animals from birth tend to have lower asthma and allergy incidence. Early ongoing exposure to pigs are associated with the lowest incidence of asthma, the study concluded. This is interesting because pig excreta is close to human excetra in its constitution. Could using and maintaining a composting toilet actually reduce risk of illness?
a hUUmanist
11 Oct 2010I was just guided to your site from Daniel Harper’s blog (http://www.danielharper.org/blog/) – it looks awesome!
I’ve been a strong believer in this for years, having grown up on a farm. Eating a little dirt – or a bug or two now and then – is no big deal! Our bodies were designed, through millions of years of evolution, to work in cooperation with our environment. It’s no surprise that when we sterilize our lives, we run into problems.