| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of Environmental Health |
| Publisher | Elsevier- Hanley and Belfus Inc. |
| Pages | 108-115 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780444522726 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2011 |
Abstract
The pedosphere, the outermost layer of Earth that is composed of soil and is subject to processes involved in soil formation, plays a critical role in human health. Many trace elements in the underlying lithosphere are available to humans through the formation of soils and its utilization for food production. The availability and viability of soils for meeting global food requirements have a profound effect on the intake of both macro- and micronutrients, including trace elements, and therefore far-reaching consequences to health. At the extreme, complete desertification may arise, which can be driven by both natural processes (e.g., annual regional fluctuations from variable rainfall patterns) and anthropogenic interventions. Characteristics of soils may also result in micronutrient deficiencies, including iodine deficiency, in populations dependent on food sources cultivated in a limited region. Soil contamination and chemical transitions are widespread problems that reduce soil suitability for food production or result in human exposure to toxicants. Soils are interconnected with communicable diseases through two principal mechanisms: by providing an environment for pathogens that may affect human health and by indirectly affecting infectious disease distribution and transmission pathways.
