Though this is anecdotal, I ve noticed that when I ve been a farmer, I have had far less sickness than when I ve lived in town. In particular, within a single industrialized country, the United States, asthma rates are far higher in poor communities. Yet this thinking runs counter to the hygiene hypothesis and is not discussed in the article. Mass. Researchers who support the hygiene hypothesis believe that the particular types of germs to which children are exposed are crucial. I was angered and disappointed by your selection of photographs to accompany the cover article.
Sexism appears to be alive and well.
I believe a picture of boys and girls playing in a sandbox or making mud pies would have been a much better, nonviolent illustration for the cover of the magazine. As for the picture of the 1950s housewife in a spotless kitchen, some of us have worked very hard to overcome the stereotypes of the 1950s and do not appreciate reminders that we have to continue to fight these battles daily. All letters subject to editing.