The study, which was carried out across 14 different countries, found those who grew up on farms are 54% less likely to develop asthma.

Almost 10% of the survey participants had grown up on a farm, were more likely to have had pets, older siblings and shared a bedroom. These were found to be 54% less likely to have asthma, or 57% less likely to have allergic nasal symptoms, in comparison with those who had grown up in an inner city area.

Children who had lived in a city suburb, town or village before the age of five, were only slightly less likely to develop asthma later in life and had the same chances of developing nasal symptoms as those who had grown up in an inner city area.

Depending on tolerance

The study, which obtained findings from the European Community respiratory health survey, examined 10,000 people between the ages of 26 and 54, in countries across Australia, Europe and Scandinavia.

Participants in the study were given a biodiversity score, between 0 and 5, depending on their tolerance and exposure to pets, other children, siblings and if they shared a bedroom as a child.

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