Environmental Microbiomes and Health: A Narrative Review
Atukunda Derrick
Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology Kampala International University Uganda
Email: derrick.atukunda@studwc.kiu.ac.ug
ABSTRACT
Environmental microbiomes are integral to ecosystem stability and human health, shaping immune development, disease resistance, and mental well-being. Microbial communities in soil, water, and air influence not only ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and agricultural productivity but also human-associated microbiomes through direct and indirect exposure. Rapid urbanization, pollution, land-use changes, and climate change have disrupted microbial diversity, leading to increased risks of chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases. Soil microbiomes underpin crop yield and sustainable farming, while aquatic microbiomes regulate biogeochemical cycles and drinking water quality. The aerobiome remains less understood, though it significantly affects respiratory health. Urban microbiomes, often less diverse than rural counterparts, demonstrate homogenization linked to human activity. Technological advances in metagenomics, bioinformatics, and next-generation sequencing have accelerated our understanding of microbiome composition and function, but challenges persist in data interpretation, ethical considerations, and translation into policy. Conservation of microbial biodiversity and sustainable land-use practices are vital to preserving ecosystem services and preventing disease. This review synthesizes current evidence on environmental microbiomes, highlighting their role in health, ecosystem function, and future opportunities for research, conservation, and policy development.
Keywords: Environmental microbiomes, Human health, Biodiversity, Sustainable agriculture and Climate change.
CITE AS: Atukunda Derrick (2025). Environmental Microbiomes and Health: A Narrative Review. IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 10(3):21-30. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAS/2025/103.2130