Researchers Publish Latest Findings on a Topic - Coastal residents experience greater well-being.
Scientists from the Flemish Marine Institute (VLIZ) have been investigating why people living along the coast seem healthier and more energetic than their inland counterparts.
Relationship between Seabreeze and the Immune System
"There have been numerous hints and evidence suggesting that sea air benefits humans," states research leader Maarten De Rijke in a feature from the Belgian newspaper "Het Nieuwblad." VLIZ, alongside universities in Ghent and Antwerp, have now uncovered the link between sea air and the immune system.
But how is this connection made?
It's quite straightforward: Seawater is teeming with bacteria and microscopic organisms, and their waste products end up in the water. When the waves crash, microscopic aerosols are released into the air. We then inhale these aerosols.
According to De Rijke, "These bacteria and their secretions stimulate the immune system. The theory is that the consistent contact with bacteria, viruses, fungi, and their by-products can suppress harmful bodily reactions such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer."
To conduct the study, the researchers utilized modified human kidney cells. "We subjected these cells to concentrated aerosols from sea air," explains De Rijke. The cells alter color during an immune response. "We saw a response after the first exposure, but determining how significant this impact is now requires further exploration."
De Rijke stresses that it's likely only a precautionary effect. "The sea is not a cure, sea air can't heal severe illnesses." However, it might only take a weekend by the coast to notice a change in the cells. "We suspect, though, that a longer duration is necessary before any protective effect emerges," says De Rijke.
Interestingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, coastal residents seemed less responsive to stress. Additionally, there are studies showing that sea air contains sugars and fatty acids that impact proteins implicated in cancer development. A 2020 study from the University of Ghent (Belgium) demonstrates that the coastal community experiences fewer cases of lung cancer.
Read also:
- The CDU is pushing for additional medical study positions in Homburg.
- Five occurrences of fives noted in Stuttgart.
- The discontinuation of SVolt would significantly affect Saarland.
- Hahn's proposal of marriage to Hannah
Source: symclub.org
