Summary
This narrative review, published in Air, Soil and Water Research, synthesises evidence on the direct and indirect connections between soil health and human health. It likely covers mechanisms including soil-derived mineral nutrition, heavy metal and chemical contamination, soil-borne pathogens, and the role of soil biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem services essential to food security. The paper situates soil as a foundational determinant of human nutritional and epidemiological outcomes, drawing on cross-disciplinary literature from soil science, agronomy, and public health.
UK applicability
Although the review is global in scope, its findings are broadly applicable to UK conditions, where issues such as declining soil organic matter, trace element deficiencies in certain soil types, and legacy contamination on brownfield or intensively farmed land are recognised policy concerns. UK bodies such as the Environment Agency and Defra have identified soil health as central to food security and public health strategies.
Key measures
Soil nutrient availability; contaminant concentrations; pathogen presence; microbiome diversity; dietary mineral intake linked to soil conditions
Outcomes reported
The paper examines the multiple pathways through which soil condition influences human health, including nutrient supply, pathogen exposure, contaminant transfer, and ecosystem services supporting food production.
Topic tags
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