Summary
This narrative review synthesises current understanding of bidirectional soil–human health relationships, moving beyond a historical focus on soil-borne hazards to highlight positive health contributions from healthy soil ecosystems. The authors identify significant knowledge gaps, including limited understanding of environmental chemical mixtures in soil, sparse integration across soil ecology, agronomy, nutrition science and human genetics, and underexamined roles of soil macrofauna. They emphasise the need for multidisciplinary research teams and improved science communication to translate soil health knowledge into societal action.
Regional applicability
The review's framework and research priorities are broadly applicable to UK agricultural and public health contexts, particularly given increasing policy interest in soil health and environmental land management schemes. However, the paper does not address UK-specific soil types, regulations, or farming practices, limiting direct policy applicability without contextualisation to British conditions.
Key measures
Not a primary research study; review identifies research needs in soil–human health connections, chemical mixture effects, soil microbiology, soil macroorganisms, and science communication
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews the mechanisms by which soil health influences human health, both positively (through nutrient supply, food production, medication provision, immune enhancement) and negatively (through toxin and pathogen exposure). It identifies key research gaps and future priorities for understanding soil–human health linkages.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.