A research article written by Mika Saarenpää, Marja Roslund, Riikka Puhakka, Aki Sinkkonen et al. has been published in the Environment International. A collaborative study between the University of Helsinki, Natural Resources Institute Finland and Tampere University showed that a one-month indoor gardening period increased the bacterial diversity of the skin and was associated with higher levels of anti-inflammatory molecules in the blood. Planter boxes filled with microbially rich soil could be introduced at kindergartens, schools and, for example, hospitals.
The article is a part of Mika Saarenpää’s doctoral dissertation "Boosting Beneficial Microbial Exposure of Urbanites through Nature-Based Recreation and Biodiverse Elements”.
University of Helsinki: Urban gardening may improve human health – Research subjects benefitted from microbial exposure that boosts the immune system
Environment International: Urban indoor gardening enhances immune regulation and diversifies skin microbiota — A placebo-controlled double-blinded intervention study
Mika Saarenpää: Boosting Beneficial Microbial Exposure of Urbanites through Nature-Based Recreation and Biodiverse Elements