How farm life can prevent allergies

Component of dairy dust turns on anti-inflammatory enzyme in mouse lungs

Cows in a field

SMELL THAT  Breathing in dust from dairy farms could protect kids from developing allergies and asthma. Dried-up cow manure could harbor the bits of bacteria that tell lung cells to calm down when faced with allergens.

Geraint Rowland/Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Preventing many allergies could be as simple as taking a breath — of farm dust.