The importance of urban biodiversity to human health and wellness, from the microbiota to the social brain

Journal title PNEI REVIEW
Author/s Chiara Tonon
Publishing Year 2022 Issue 2022/1 Language Italian
Pages 16 P. 78-93 File size 519 KB
DOI 10.3280/PNEI2022-001007
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

Environmental microbiota overlaps and stimulates the human microbiota, contributing to its biodiversity. Urbanisation ceaselessly reduces the abundance and diversity of microbes. Biodiversity hypothesis of health and disease means that microbial change due to biodiversity loss is associated with an increase in immune dysregulation and impaired tolerance with various adverse health effects. Western research focuses on allergy and respiratory diseases, whereas Japanese researchers investigate the healthy benefits of urban green and arboreal landscape. It’s still unclear which is the role of species variability among green areas on human health. The most interesting hypothesis is the one connected with the role of microbial signals on physiological neurodevelopment and programming of social behaviors. Raising awareness on global health is of utmost importance by treating plant-blindness, starting from systemic education and highlighting the key role of biodiversity, seen as a life library and human resource to train the immune system to defend against modern diseases connected with progress and allow humans to adapt to changes.

Keywords: Social brain, Microbial signals, Biodiversity, Plant-blindness, Environmental Microbiota, Urban green.

  1. Agay-Shay K., Peled A., Crespo A.V., Peretz C., Amitai Y., Linn S., Friger M., & Nieuwenhuijsen M.J. (2014). Green spaces and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 71(8), 562–569.
  2. Antonelli M., Donelli D., Barbieri G., Valussi M., Maggini V., & Firenzuoli F. (2020). Forest Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Effects on Human Health: A State-of-the-Art Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6506.
  3. Barbiero G., Maculan N., Venturella A., Berto R., & Bolten B. (2021). Scuola Primaria di Gressoney-La-Trinité La prima scuola biofila in Italia. Università della Valle d’Aosta - Université de la Vallée d’Aoste. Recuperato 8 aprile 2022, da -- https://www.univda.it/progetti-di-ricerca/nuova-architettura-sensibile-alpina-n-as-a/risultati-delle-ricerche-condotte-e-prodotti-ottenuti/
  4. Berg G., Rybakova D., Fischer D., Cernava T., Vergès M.-C.C., Charles T., Chen X., Cocolin L., Eversole K., Corral G.H., Kazou M., Kinkel L., Lange L., Lima N., Loy A., Macklin J.A., Maguin E., Mauchline T., McClure R., Mitter B., Ryan M., Sarand I., Smidt H., Schelkle B., Roume H., Kiran G.S., Selvin J., Souza R.S.C. de, van Overbeek L., Singh B.K., Wagner M., Walsh A., Sessitsch A., & Schloter M. (2020). Microbiome definition re-visited: old concepts and new challenges. Microbiome, 8(1), 103.
  5. Bratman G.N., Hamilton J.P., Hahn K.S., Daily G.C., & Gross J.J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(28), 8567–8572.
  6. Browning M.H.E.M., Mimnaugh K.J., van Riper C.J., Laurent H.K., & LaValle S.M. (2020). Can Simulated Nature Support Mental Health? Comparing Short, Single-Doses of 360-Degree Nature Videos in Virtual Reality With the Outdoors. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 2667.
  7. Dravigne A., Waliczek T.M., Lineberger R.D., & Zajicek J.M. (2008). The Effect of Live Plants and Window Views of Green Spaces on Employee Perceptions of Job Satisfaction. HortScience, 43(1), 183–187.
  8. Farley K.M.J., & Veitch J.A. (2001). A Room With A View: A Review of the Effects of Windows on Work and Well-Being [Data set]. American Psychological Association.
  9. Flies E.J., Skelly C., Negi S.S., Prabhakaran P., Liu Q., Liu K., Goldizen F.C., Lease C., & Weinstein P. (2017). Biodiverse green spaces: a prescription for global urban health. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(9), 510–516.
  10. Groenewegen P.P., van den Berg A.E., de Vries S., & Verheij R.A. (2006). Vitamin G: effects of green space on health, well-being, and social safety. BMC Public Health, 6(1), 149. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-6-149
  11. Gruebner O., Rapp M.A., Adli M., Kluge U., Galea S., & Heinz A. (2017). Cities and Mental Health. Deutsches Ärzteblatt international, 114, 121–127.
  12. Hansen M.M., Jones R., & Tocchini K. (2017). Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(8), 851.
  13. Horiuchi M., Endo J., Takayama N., Murase K., Nishiyama N., Saito H., & FujiwaraA. (2014). Impact of Viewing vs. Not Viewing a Real Forest on Physiological and Psychological Responses in the Same Setting. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(10), 10883–10901. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111010883
  14. Kaplan R. (2001). The Nature of the View from Home: Psychological Benefits. Environment and Behavior, 33(4), 507–542.
  15. Kobayashi H., Song C., Ikei H., Park B.-J., Kagawa T., & Miyazaki Y. (2019). Combined Effect of Walking and Forest Environment on Salivary Cortisol Concentration.Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 376.
  16. La Rosa S.L., Leth M.L., Michalak L., Hansen M.E., Pudlo N.A., Glowacki R., Pereira G., Workman C.T., Arntzen M.Ø., Pope P.B., Martens E.C., Hachem M.A., & Westereng B. (2019). The human gut Firmicute Roseburia intestinalis is a primary degrader of dietary β-mannans. Nature Communications, 10(1), 905.
  17. Lee K.J., Moon H., Yun H.R., Park E.L., Park A.R., Choi H., Hong K., & Lee J. (2020). Greenness, civil environment, and pregnancy outcomes: perspectives with a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Health, 19(1), 91.
  18. Lee M., Lee J., Park B.-J., & Miyazaki Y. (2015). Interaction with indoor plants may reduce psychological and physiological stress by suppressing autonomic nervous system activity in young adults: a randomized crossover study. Journal of Physiological Anthropology, 34(1), 21.
  19. Li Q. (2010). Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), 9–17.
  20. Nurminen N., Lin J., Grönroos M., Puhakka R., Kramna L., Vari H.K., Viskari H., Oikarinen S., Roslund M., Parajuli A., Tyni I., Cinek O., Laitinen O., Hyöty H., & Sinkkonen A. (2018). Nature-derived microbiota exposure as a novel immunomodulatory approach. Future Microbiology, 13(7), 737–744.
  21. Sherwin E., Bordenstein S.R., Quinn J.L., Dinan T.G., & Cryan J.F. (2019). Microbiota and the social brain. Science, 366(6465), eaar2016.
  22. Sobko T., Liang S., Cheng W.H.G., & Tun H.M. (2020). Impact of outdoor nature-related activities on gut microbiota, fecal serotonin, and perceived stress in preschool children: the Play&Grow randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 21993.
  23. Stier-Jarmer M., Throner V., Kirschneck M., Immich G., Frisch D., & Schuh A. (2021). The Psychological and Physical Effects of Forests on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
  24. Wandersee J.H., & Schussler E.E. (1998). A model of plant blindness. Poster and paper presented at the 3rd Annual Associates Meeting of the 15° Laboratory, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA. Wolf K.L., Lam S.T., McKeen J.K., Richardson G.R.A., van den Bosch M., & Bardekjian A.C. (2020). Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4371.
  25. Yau K.K.-Y., & Loke A.Y. (2020). Effects of forest bathing on pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults: a review of the literature. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 25(1), 23.

Chiara Tonon, L’importanza della biodiversità ambientale urbana su salute e benessere, dal microbiota al cervello sociale in "PNEI REVIEW" 1/2022, pp 78-93, DOI: 10.3280/PNEI2022-001007