Over the past few decades, there has been an explosion of scientific research on the gut microbiome. Scientists have explored the role of this complex microbial community in many aspects of human health, including cancer, immune function, as well as neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. A healthy gut microbiome contains a diverse array of microbes that can vary dramatically between individuals due to such factors as diet, gut pH, immune status, stress exposure, hormonal imbalances, stage of life as well as various environmental factors. And since it is a living organism (your inner ‘zoo’ or garden if you prefer), it can be damaged as well as revitalised easily. We know well how antibiotics can help eradicate the pathogenic bacteria but also destroy the healthy gut flora. Same goes for many chemicals sprayed on our foods, floating in our water, and in the air which can have a double edge impact on our inner environment.

But do you know that we have other microbiomes in various locations of the body? There is an oral microbiome, vaginal microbiome, urinary microbiome, skin microbiome as well as the ocular one (of the eyes) over and above the gut one, and they all vary significantly when it comes to the bacterial strains present there. These are also different in terms of the ratios of representation of the strains of the microbiota inhabiting these environments. They all impact collectively the condition of our immune system as they interact with our mucosa where they usually reside. The immune system talks relentlessly to the nervous system as well as the endocrine system so the condition of one area has very wide implications for our whole wellbeing.

If we look at the healthy vaginal microbiome, for instance, it is often dominated by one of four Lactobacillus  species: L. crispatus, L. iners, L. paragasseri, and L. mulieris. Of these types, L. crispatus  seems to be associated with optimal health. A microbiota dominated by L. iners, on the other hand, has been linked to a greater risk for developing bacterial vaginosis (BV). When the lactobaccilli lose dominance, a diverse array of anaerobic bacteria, including Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea vaginae, and Prevotella bivia, often begins to flourish and cause dysbiosis. However, no single microbe seems sufficient to cause BV, and many BV-associated bacteria are also found in healthy women. Some studies show that women whose microbiomes were dominated by non-lactobacilli species were more likely to be infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) and had a higher risk for cervical cancer.

New discoveries are confirming that if we optimize the vaginal microbiome in a sustainable way, we could potentially address what often follows dysbiosis, including acquiring HIV, preterm birth, and potentially other consequences too. The same applies to the urinary microbiome, typically dominated by Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. brevis, L. casei, L. helveticus, L. pentosus, L. plantarum and L.salivarius. Another group of microbes is predominant in the oral environment, yet another the ocular one. All these environs can be optimised by replenishing the specific microbiota that inhabit these places and the good news is these beneficial and desirable bacterial strains can now be supplemented as and when needed.   

Whilst replenishing and repairing each microbiome is possible, we also need to pay attention to the factors impacting its viability as otherwise we would be throwing our money away. Recently a Swedish study indicated that wireless technology powering our phones, wifi and even baby monitors can fuel the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They mapped genetically the E.coli bacteria and found that the reason why it spread across countries was exposure to the various waves and frequencies. Since antibiotic resistance of the superbug MRSA has already been a major challenge to medical practitioners worldwide in the last few decades, the ECDC study emphasized the importance of continuing to develop and improve the conditions for reducing the spread of multi-resistant bacteria. Only within the EU there are yearly more than 35,000 deaths due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and by the year 2050, it has been calculated that more than 10,000,000 people worldwide will die prematurely each year due to antibiotic resistance.

A 2017 study also demonstrated that E.coli and Listeria monocytogenes were resistant to antibiotics when exposed to 900 MHz GSM mobile phone radiation and 2.4 GHz radiofrequency radiation emitted from common Wi-Fi routers. Additionally, Staphylococcus aureus biofilms have been shown in a US study to communicate using frequencies that are in the range used by Wi-Fi and 5G C-band. The experiment found that notable radiation is observed in the 3-4 GHz band coming from the Staphylococcus aureus biofilms thus making them immune to some of the currently used antibiotic drugs.

Overall, environmental factors are often complex and subtle, though in real-life settings they often interact with each other long term. Some forever chemicals are even in our soil and water and area currently said to potentially remain there for over 100 years. Chemical toxins frequently appear in mixtures, e.g. in bottled and tap water, cosmetics, foods sprayed with pesticides and insecticides, in food packaging and medications plus vaccines which when exposed to act as plain toxins, endocrine and microbiome diversity disruptors or ‘thinners’.

Apart from radio waves, common chemicals are obvious culprits when it comes to damaging our microbiomes, especially that of the gut, skin and urinary system. We need to remain mindful of that when choosing the water we drink, the foods we consume (ideally – organic produce, grass-fed meats and wild fish wherever possible) as well as personal hygiene and beauty products as the effects can be cumulative and over time can lead to pathological changes within the digestive tract, on the skin and other sensitive areas. You have surely heard about the benefits of consuming fermented products like sauerkraut and kombucha, let alone yoghurt and kefir. But since the list of chemicals we are exposed to daily is much longer than a few examples mentioned here, it is worth considering doing a regular spring cleaning to give the body a fighting chance to extend its lifespan and vitality. Doing this as part of a monthly hygiene routine is even better and monitoring your other lifestyle choices is the way to go.

Other context dependent ‘macroenvironmental’ factors (like living in areas of high industrial toxin level, toxic buildings with black mould in the living areas) and individual ‘microenvironmental’ factors (like smoking, alcohol, and recreational drug use) have also been noted to be likely to mobilise the microbiota toward less healthy or more healthy conditions, influencing the development of various non-communicable diseases such as neurological conditions, diabetes, obesity, other metabolic diseases, as well as cancers. The task can be daunting when you consider the breadth of exposure with high potential to upset our personal zoo. The good news is that it is up to us to look after our bacterial flora and, as long as we are aware of the potential dangers, choose what we consume carefully and live our lives wisely. We can only trust that in years to come we will invent technologies that will reduce or even completely eliminate all of these culprits and help us live in a more microbiota-friendly way.

References:

Evaluation of the Effect of Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted From Wi-Fi Router and Mobile Phone Simulator on the Antibacterial Susceptibility of Pathogenic Bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. M Taheri ¹, S M J Mortazavi ², M Moradi ¹, S Mansouri ¹, G R Hatam ³, F Nouri ⁴ Dose Response. 2017 Jan 23;15(1):1559325816688527. doi: 10.1177/ 1559325816688527. eCollection 2017 Jan-Mar.

Rao M, Sarabandi K, Soukar J, Kotov NA, Van Epps JS, ”Experimental evidence of radio frequency radiation from Staphylococcus aureus biofilms”, IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, 2022; 6: 420-428

Experimental Evidence of Radio Frequency Radiation From Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms

M Rao, K Sarabandi, J Soukar… – IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology, ieeexplore.ieee.org 9 May 2022;  TUS Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

The dynamic relationship between skin microbiomes and personal care products: A comprehensive review. Mahjabin Ferdaous Mim ^a, Mahmudul Hasan Sikder ^b, Md. Zahid Hasan Chowdhury ^a, Ashkar-Ul-Alam Bhuiyan ^a, Nayeematul Zinan ^a, Shah Mohammad Naimul Islam. Science Direct Volume 10, Issue 14, 30 July 2024, e34549

Environmental Influences on the Human Microbiome and Implications for Noncommunicable Disease.  Jiyoung Ahn, and Richard B. Hayes Annual Review of Public Health 42, pp. 277 – 292 (Apr 2021)