Can you be too clean?
There's a growing belief out there that it is possible to be too clean, but is that really the case? We reveal the dirty truth.
Unhealthy hygiene?
Some scientists are claiming that industrialised society's allegedly excessive pursuit of hygiene is just as unhealthy as those of us who are forced to live in unhygenic surroundings. Although what constitutes 'excessive' is open to debate, the principal argument is that over-zealous hygiene is destroying the bugs we all need to develop a combat-ready immune system. This is reflected, say the proponents of the so-called 'hygiene hypothesis', in the rising incidence of atopic (hypersensitive reactions) diseases, such as allergies and asthma that tend to run in families. Since the 1960s, they point out, the number of children diagnosed with asthma has risen by 10%.
Interesting idea, but is there anything in it?
One of the stumbling blocks, claim members of the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH), is that research into the causes of atopic diseases is both inconclusive and contradictory, making it difficult to point the finger at a single culprit. Some studies have found links between allergies and the number of siblings in a household, while others have cited urbanisation, attendance at playgroups and various other factors. Some studies have found no links, or only with specific microbes.
Scientific logic also argues against the hypothesis. With an undermined immune system you would expect to see a commensurately steep rise in infectious diseases, but this hasn’t happened. Moreover, although you need to come into contact with microbes immediately after birth in order to develop a robust immune system, there is no evidence that ongoing exposure to infectious agents strengthens your general immunity. And, apart from vaccination, the only way to develop immunity against a specific disease, such as smallpox, is to catch it: a strong general immune system won’t help. Arguably the weakest link in the hypothesis is the fact that home hygiene standards have not improved significantly over the last 50 years, reflected in the high incidence of gastro-intestinal diseases, 40% of which are due to cross-contamination from foods in the home, according to the WHO (World Health Organization).
So you can’t be too careful, then?
We thought it would be best to let the experts have the last word on this debate: ''Although there have been concerns about 'too much hygiene', the general consensus is that the hygiene hypothesis is unfounded," says Sally Bloomfield of the IFH. Most experts also agree that the advantages of hygiene in preventing gastro-intestinal diseases far outweigh any possible risks.
"The best solution is to apply targeted hygiene. This will enable you to protect your family against infectious diseases without disturbing the balance of our natural and human environment."
