Posted by Meri-Tuuli on April 2, 2007, at 13:30:08
In reply to Re: Dirt exposure 'boosts happiness', posted by Ines on April 2, 2007, at 11:51:43
> 'sterile' environments for children,
To be totally honest, I think the UK has probably one of the least sterile home environments - largely due to the national obsession with carpets and the poorer quality housing.
I mean, here in Finland the floor is wooden or like laminated - everybody changes their outdoor shoes as soon as they come inside into house shoes (they do this even in offices), which is something that not all that many people do. Plus, the windows! In the UK you have to wipe up in the morning pools of water from the condensation! Plus that grows mold, which isn't particulary healthy.
In the house we rent back in the UK at the moment, they have carpet in the bathroom! A german collegue came round once and couldn't believe it.
I mean okay, you might have decent windows and damp courses and un-carpeted floors in the higher income families, but here this isn't even an issue even amongst the poorest families.
No, I'd say that the UK has the highest incidence of asthma etc because of the carpets, and the damp mouldy general conditions.
Kind regards
Meri
poster:Meri-Tuuli
thread:746199
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070402/msgs/746298.html