Frac Sand Update, A Timeline Of Voter ID, Maybe You Should Just Let Your Kids Eat Dirt

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Even if the five-second rule has been disproved, some are saying that exposing our children to bacteria could actually boost immune health. We find out more. We also talk to two reporters who compiled a timeline of the voter ID laws in Wisconsin, and look at the future of frac sand mining in Wisconsin.

Featured in this Show

  • As Two Frac Sand Mines Reopen In Wisconsin, What's Next For The Industry?

    After more than a year downturn for the frac sand industry in Wisconsin, two previously closed mines in the Chippewa Valley have resumed operations. A reporter looks at what this might signal for the future of the state’s frac sand industry.

  • A Timeline Of Voter ID In Wisconsin

    In the last five years, there’s been plenty of legal ups and downs for the state’s voter ID law, which will be in effect this November. It’s the first time the law has been in effect for a general election…but just how did we get here? Two of WPR’s state capitol reporters take a look back at the timeline of voter ID in Wisconsin.

  • Let Them Eat Dirt! Kids In An Over-Sanitized World

    Kids need dirt in their lives–and too much cleanliness may be bad for the rich ecosystem that lives in their guts. That’s according to a biologist, who shares the latest science on dirt, hygiene, and health.

  • Why You Should Let Your Child Get Dirty, Within Reason

    It’s hard to argue parents don’t want the best for their kids. But when it comes to keeping them clean, are we going a little overboard?

    The answer is a resounding yes, according to Marie-Claire Arrieta, microbiologist and co-author of “Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child From An Over-Sanitized World.”

    In an attempt to keep children free from disease, parents are all too often killing off the microbes that actually make them healthy, Arrieta said.

    The microbiologist notes that in the scientific world, microbes have traditionally gotten a bad rap, but in the last decade or so, scientists are starting to reconsider.

    “All microbes cannot be put under the same umbrella,” Arrieta said, noting while some microbes are to be feared because of their potential to cause very dangerous infections, there are others performing much more productive tasks.

    “Microbes are also a part of who we are, they really are part of our bodies,” she said. “We rely on microbes, especially as children, to perform essential tasks for our development, like the maturation of our immune system.”

    Vaccines and antibiotics are often necessary to ward off the bad microbes, which leaves hygiene as the one factor that’s most often in our control.

    So where and when is it okay to let your child get dirty?

    First off, Arrieta said it’s important to note not all dirt is created equal.

    “If you’re out in a public space where there’s lots of people and you see your child picking something from the ground and putting it in the mouth, it’s not a really good idea,” she said. “There’s lot of people there, and whenever there’s a high concentration of people, the risk of diseases goes up.”

    Take the people away, however, and it’s a different story.

    “If your child is out in the park or out in the countryside or in your own home, the risk of disease, of contracting a disease, really goes down,” she said.

    One of the questions that comes up time and time again is handwashing. While it can be tempting as a parent to have your child wash their hands after touching anything out of the ordinary, Arrieta said it’s not necessary.

    “There’s this idea that the more you clean yourself, the safer you are,” she said. “That’s just not the case, according to science.”

    From a disease prevention perspective, there are certain times where hands should absolutely be washed — before making or eating food, after using the restroom, during illness or contact with an ill person, or picking up animal waste, Arrieta said. “Beyond that, handwashing makes no difference in terms of disease prevention,” she said.

    Also, ditch the antibacterial soap. Same for the little bottles of hand sanitizer.

    “They’re really not good for you, and they’re really not effective in preventing disease,” she said.

    Unless you’re camping, or somewhere without access to water, stick to good old-fashioned soap and water.

    “Anything beyond that is totally over-sanitizing ourselves,” she said.

    All of this, however, makes little difference without proper nutrition, Arrieta said.

    “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how good of exposure your kids have to microbes, if you don’t feed those microbes the right things, they’re going to end up dying anyway.”

    Arrieta recommended a high-fiber diet, rich with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. She also suggested supplementing meals with fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and pickled vegetables.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Haleema Shah Producer
  • Rob Ferrett Producer
  • Rich Kremer Guest
  • Shawn Johnson Guest
  • Laurel White Guest
  • Marie-Claire Arrieta Guest