Breath of life

Last updated: Feb 11, 2025 | body

Breath of Life

We move in a cloud of microorganisms. Millions of invisible microbial cells accompany us throughout our lives. Even if we cannot see them, they directly influence our microbiome and our health.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused “air” to suffer a considerable loss of image. Whereas people used to say: “Why don’t you go outside and get some fresh air?”, political guidelines and compulsory masks have forced people to breathe in filtered air in many situations. Without going into the meaningfulness of such measures, this gave the impression that the ambient air posed a danger to people. In fact, the opposite is the case. Air can of course also harbor pathogens, but normally carries a colorful mixture of viruses and bacteria that interact directly with the human microbiome.

Why is fresh air healthy?

But why is “fresh” air, i.e. air that is as unpolluted as possible, so healthy?
If you enjoy a walk through nature, the oxygen content is at its highest there, reaching a maximum of 21%. This oxygen is bound by the haemoglobin of our red blood cells, the erythrocytes, and is used to supply the entire body. Oxygen is necessary for the body to produce sufficient energy. This is because most of the energy from food is efficiently obtained from oxygen as part of cellular respiration. Everyone has experienced feeling fresh and revitalized after a walk through the forest. This is the direct result of optimal cell function.

No harmful substances

In contrast to air from closed rooms, fresh air is much less contaminated with pollutants. Volatile organic compounds from furniture, paints, cleaning agents and other sources accumulate indoors. In addition, fine dust and carbon dioxide accumulate if the air is not ventilated regularly. In contrast, fresh air relieves the body and can reduce headaches, fatigue and respiratory problems.

Optimum humidity

In a closed room climate, the humidity rises through breathing. Sweating and cooking also lead to an increase and promote mold growth, which can cause respiratory problems.

Effect on the psyche

The psyche reacts directly to fresh air. “Clear your head” is a typical saying that refers to the fact that fresh air increases concentration, alertness and well-being. In addition, exercise, sunlight and the sounds of nature, such as birdsong, have health benefits, reduce stress hormones and thus promote a positive attitude towards life. Breathing consciously outdoors in particular reduces stress and clears the mind.
It also stretches the intercostal muscles and thus clears the chest. These fine muscles are located between the ribs and are an essential part of the respiratory muscles. The “liberating feeling” when taking a deep breath of fresh air is precisely due to the stretching of these muscle layers.

Bacteria in the air

However, a significantly underestimated aspect of exercise in the fresh air is coming into contact with airborne microorganisms. These bioaerosols, which mainly consist of bacteria, spores, viruses and fungi, make up around a quarter of all non-living aerosols in the air.

Most people have driven through a snow flurry at night. The flakes are illuminated by the headlights, creating the typical “Star Wars” effect – the impression of driving at high speed through a cloud of particles. This is also how you can imagine walking outside. Up to 10 million micro-organisms in one cubic meter of air pelt down on us, enter us through our nose, eyes, ears and mouth, settle on our clothes, skin and hair and become part of us in the short or long term by combining with the other 38 trillion bacteria and 10,000 trillion viruses in and on us.

As a result, they have a direct effect on our health.

The positive effects of airborne germs

Woman and air

Microorganisms in the air can have a positive effect on our health.

Strengthening the immune system

The constant exchange with a variety of microorganisms strengthens our immune system. It has been shown that children who grow up in rural areas with a higher number of different microorganisms have significantly fewer allergies than children who grow up in the city. The study of Amish children, a population group that prefers a very natural, agricultural and traditional way of life, showed a significantly lower risk of asthma than the comparison group. Although the dust from the Amish houses had a higher endotoxin load, it was precisely this and the high microbial diversity of the air that seemed to strengthen the immune system. The Amish children were found to have higher levels of immune cell activity, which regulated inflammation and prevented excessive immune reactions.

Diversity of the microbiome

Air in rural areas, but also in urban parks, has a higher diversity of microorganisms. This in turn has a positive effect on the diversity of the human microbiome. Continuous confrontation with external bacteria from the air makes the microbiome much more stable and thus more stable.

Intestinal health

In principle, the microorganisms in the air can also reach the intestine and have a positive effect on the balance in the intestine.

Mood enhancement

Bacteria in the air can also have a direct influence on our feelings via the gut-brain axis and thus have a mood-enhancing effect.

Skin health

Our uncovered skin comes into direct contact with airborne microorganisms, which in turn can positively influence the skin flora, contributing to a healthier skin barrier and better protection against pathogens.

Bacteria have a hard time in the air

The microorganisms in the air do not have it easy. This is because they must have pigments to be sufficiently resistant to the UV radiation in the air. In addition, the air is quite dry and lacking in nutrients. Many airborne bacteria can therefore form resistant spores that enable them to survive even in poor conditions. This natural selection limits which bacteria can occur in the air. The more rural and unpolluted the air, the more diverse and positive the bacterial microbiota.

Greening of urban areas

Greening urban areas therefore makes a significant contribution to improving the air microbiota. While diversity is low in plant-free urban zones and pathogenic, i.e. disease-causing, bacteria can emerge, the air in unpolluted and greened zones is rich in various bacteria that have a positive effect on human health. In addition to the known effects of green zones on city dwellers, such as positive effects on the psyche and an increased oxygen content, the increased diversity of bacteria is a further argument for adequately greening urban zones.

10 tips for better health with airborne bacteria

Green forest

Tip 1: Look for country air

Ideally, children should grow up in a rural area with as little pollution as possible. If this is not possible or not wanted, green urban areas should be visited as often as possible.

Tip 2: Take time out

Give yourself, your lungs and your microbiome a break. Long periods of sitting in an office are poison for your health. Even 15 minutes in the fresh air every day can make a significant difference.

Tip 3: Enjoy nature

Go out into nature as often as possible. Take deep, conscious breaths. Enjoy the moment and feel the oxygen flowing into your cells and the good bacteria strengthening your microbiome.

Tip 4: Get out of your clothes

Allow your skin to relax. Simply shed the stress and pressure of today’s world with your clothes and allow your skin to come into contact with the sun, fresh air and the bacteria it contains. Don’t let the prudery and fear-mongering of today’s society stop you. Enjoy the scent of the forest air and feel the contact with the grass and the blowing of the wind on your skin. Be yourself. Live.

Tip 5: Ventilate

If you cannot go outside, open the window several times a day and ventilate. Ideally, you should create cross-ventilation through opposite windows. Even if your workplace has automated air conditioning or ventilation, it is still better – except in extremely polluted areas – to let fresh air in and not just inhale air that has been blown and filtered through various ducts and shafts.

Tip 6: Outdoor sports

Do sport in the open air. Exercise is always good, but if you can also do it in the fresh air, you gain twice as much.

Tip 7: Pay attention to the room climate

Ensure a balanced indoor climate. Make sure that the humidity remains between 40 and 60 % and the temperature is between 19 and 22 °C.

Tip 8: Be mindful

Breathe consciously in the open air. Concentrate on the flow of air that runs through your body and flows into every single cell. Be mindful.

Tip 9: Meditate outdoors

Ideally, meditate outdoors. The chirping of the birds and the fresh air strengthen your psyche, your lungs and your immune system.

Tip 10: Be grateful

But above all, don’t be afraid. Humans are natural beings and have been in close contact with bacteria for hundreds of thousands of years. The body is not only used to being in direct contact with airborne bacteria, but also depends on it. “Feel” how the bacteria flow into your body with the air and be grateful that you are allowed to be alive.

With a positive attitude, more mindfulness and a desire for direct contact with nature, you can be sure that you will not only significantly extend your life, but also enjoy it to the full. (JS)


Sources and further reading

Mhuireach, G., Johnson, B. R., Altrichter, A. E., Ladau, J., Meadow, J. F., Pollard, K. S., & Green, J. L. (2016). Urban greenness influences airborne bacterial community composition. Science of the Total Environment, 571, 680-687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.07.037

Ruiz-Gil, T., Acuña, J. J., Fujiyoshi, S., Tanaka, D., Noda, J., Maruyama, F., & Jorquera, M. A. (2020). Airborne bacterial communities of outdoor environments and their associated influencing factors. Environment International, 145, 106156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.106156

Meklin, T., Putus, T., Pekkanen, J., & Nevalainen, A. (2019). Influence of indoor conditions on microbial diversity and quantity in schools. E3S Web of Conferences, 111, 01035. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201911101035

von Hertzen, L., Hanski, I., & Haahtela, T. (2011). Natural immunity: Biodiversity loss and inflammatory diseases are two global megatrends that might be related. EMBO Reports, 12(11), 1089-1093. https://doi.org/10.1038/embor.2011.195

Pulliero, A., Traversi, D., Franchitti, E., Barchitta, M., Izzotti, A., & Agodi, A. (2022). The Interaction among Microbiota, Epigenetic Regulation, and Air Pollutants in Disease Prevention. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12010014

Ege, M. J., Mayer, M., Normand, A.-C., Genuneit, J., Cookson, W. O. C. M., Braun-Fahrländer, C., et al. (2011). Exposure to Environmental Microorganisms and Childhood Asthma. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(8), 701-709. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1007302

Stein, M. M., Hrusch, C. L., Gozdz, J., Igartua, C., Pivniouk, V., Murray, S. E., et al. (2016). Innate Immunity and Asthma Risk in Amish and Hutterite Farm Children. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(5), 411-421. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1508749

Rook, G. A. (2013). Regulation of the immune system by biodiversity from the natural environment: An ecosystem service essential to health. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(46), 18360-18367. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1313731110

Zhao, J., Jin, L., Wu, D., Xie, J.-W., Li, J., Fu, X.-W., et al. (2022). Global airborne bacterial community-interactions with Earth’s microbiomes and anthropogenic activities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119(42), e2204465119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2204465119

Kirjavainen, P. V., Karvonen, A. M., Adams, R. I., Täubel, M., Roponen, M., Tuoresmäki, P., et al. (2019). Farm-like indoor microbiota in non-farm homes protects children from asthma development. Nature Medicine, 25(7), 1089-1095. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-019-0469-4

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