• Question: Do u think we are to clean ? Do you think we are too clean about microbes? Do you think we are too clean, about right or not clean enough?

    Asked by pricee to Mark, Panos, Sarah, Michael, MarkF on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: . This question was also asked by tristan8, 8hemy, lornad, nkdee.
    • Photo: Panos Soultanas

      Panos Soultanas answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Cleanliness is a good thing generally. There is no need to go over the top and over do it. Just regular cleaning habits are fine. Microbes are everywhere and it will be impossible to avoid them. We are all exposed to them on a daily basis and our immune systems are well adapted to cope well. Sometimes using chemicals like bleach to over-clean makes it worst. My wife developed an allergy to bleach because she was over-using it to clean our toilets and bathrooms.

    • Photo: Mark Travis

      Mark Travis answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Well, there is an idea that is very popular with a lot of scientists called the ‘hygiene hypothesis’. It is used to explain the fact that in most countries in the Western world, in recent years there has been a massive increase in the number of people who have allergies in inner cities whereas this isn’t seen in people who live in more rural areas (i.e. on farms). Some scientists claim that this is due to us being too clean now-a-days; children in inner cities today don’t see as many bacteria and other microbes as kids in older days, as people are more careful about sterilising everything and keeping everything super clean. So, when the immune system sees an allergen like pollen or nuts, it goes crazy and causes an allergic reaction. Whereas people in less developed countries (and those on farms) don’t live in such a clean environment (so they say), so their immune systems are tickled all through childhood. So, when they see something that can cause an allergy, they ignore it.
      Bit complicated I know, but basically there are a lot of people who think we are too clean now-a-days…… but we have to be careful because if we aren’t clean enough we can get infected with microbes that can really make us ill as well!! I think there is some truth to us being too clean, but wouldn’t recommend letting babies roll about in the mud…..

    • Photo: Mark Fogg

      Mark Fogg answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      I think we are obsessed with being clean, but that doesn’t mean keeping clean is all bad. There’s a trade off, between increased numbers of allergies and a decrease in the number of people dying from horrible disease related to bad hygiene. I don’t like my mild allergies, but I’d rather have them than die of Typhoid. The answer is to find a balance.
      In the past our ancestors had to cope with horrid infections like Typhoid, Cholera and The Plague. These diseases are under control in the developed world so are less of a concern. As you guys understand, the ‘Hygiene Hypothesis’ suggests we’ve gone too far with cleanliness, we have to step back a little and find a happy middle ground.

    • Photo: Michael Loughlin

      Michael Loughlin answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I think we can worry too much about microbes..which is what some copmpanies use to sell their products. The main risk is not bacteria on your skin..but in food. all bacteria that cause food based disease will be killed if food is cooked properly and eaten when hot
      much more importnat…that and clean water to drink, wash in and we should eb ok…luxuries we sometimes take for granted in the developed world

    • Photo: Sarah Burl

      Sarah Burl answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Some people are too obsessive about being clean. there are certain times where you need to be clean like washing your hands after going to the toilet but washing your hands after handling maney is just not neccessary!

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