Learn to live with microbes

 As one who doesn’t believe in sanitizing everything—or, really, anything—I was heartened to read about an international project in which over 900 scientists and volunteers collected samples of microorganisms from subways in 60 cities and on six continents. They swabbed turnstiles, railings, ticket kiosks, benches and subway cars. (One researcher was thanked by a bystander for cleaning the subway.)

They found 4,246 known species of micro-organisms. Two thirds of these were bacteria and the remainder were a mix of fungi, viruses and other kinds of microbes. They also found 10,928 viruses and 748 kinds of bacteria that had never been documented. The vast majority of the collected organisms pose little risk to humans. As one scientist reported, “We don’t see anything that we are worried about. People are in contact with these all the time.” In fact, nearly all of the new viruses are likely to be bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria.

The researchers also found that each city had its own distinctive microbial signature. In fact, scientists could identify, with 88 percent accuracy, where a sample had come from. Nevertheless, they did find a “core urban microbiome” that was present in nearly every sample in every city. Half of these are bacteria that typically live in and on the human body, especially the skin. The core microbiome also contained soil bacteria and a species typically associated with the ocean.

As another scientist reported, “The amount of microbial diversity is just incomprehensibly vast.” Microbes are a natural part of our environment. You can’t avoid the little creatures and you can’t get rid of them. So don’t even try.

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