Soils and Human Health

Brevik, Eric C.

doi:10.1201/b13683-4

Cited by 47 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Griffin et al [125] report that about 20 human infectious disease organisms, like anthrax and tuberculosis, are easily carried in the soil particles transported by the wind. Inhaled dust can also cause problems such as irritation of the respiratory passages and diseases such as lung cancer and dust can carry harmful materials such as organic chemicals, heavy metals, and radioactive materials into the lungs [81].…”

Section: Sediments and Wind Blown Soil Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production

2013

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Since humans worldwide obtain more than 99.7% of their food (calories) from the land and less than 0.3% from the oceans and aquatic ecosystems, preserving cropland and maintaining soil fertility should be of the highest importance to human welfare. Soil erosion is one of the most serious threats facing world food production. Each year about 10 million ha of cropland are lost due to soil erosion, thus reducing the cropland available for world food production. The loss of cropland is a serious problem because the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization report that two-thirds of the world population is malnourished. Overall, soil is being lost from agricultural areas 10 to 40 times faster than the rate of soil formation imperiling humanity's food security.

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Section: Sediments and Wind Blown Soil Particlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the replacement strategy is expensive for the farmer and nation and usually poor farmers cannot afford fertilizer. Not only are the fertilizer inputs fossil-energy dependent, these chemicals can harm human health and pollute the soil, water and air [64,81].…”

Section: Nutrient Lossesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production

2013

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“…The study of soils and human health is a complicated endeavor: traditional scientific approaches that isolate a single variable, such as a specific contaminant, and then investigate that variable are usually not effective, because many of the issues that affect human health involve complicated and synergistic relationships (Brevik and Sauer, 2015;Brevik and Burgess, 2013).…”

Section: Soil Contamination and Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Contamination and Human Health: A Major Challenge for Global Soil Security

Carré

Caudeville

Bonnard

et al. 2017

Progress in Soil Science

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This chapter aimed to demonstrate, by several illustrated examples, that Human Health should be considered as another major challenge of global soil security by emphasizing the fact that (a) soil contamination is a worldwide issue, estimations can be done based on local contamination but the extent and content of diffuse contamination is largely unknown; (b) although soil is able to store, filter and reduce contamination, it can also transform and make accessible soil contaminants and their metabolites, contributing then to human health impacts. The future scientific and societal challenges related to Soil-Human Health studies and soil security dimensions are discussed afterwards based on current programs and literature review.

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“…Exposure to high concentrations of metals and metalloids in soils is an issue of widespread public health concern (e.g., Oliver 1997;CCME 2006;Ernst 2012;Alloway 2013;Brevik and Burgess 2013). The abundance and spatial distribution of these elements in soils are influenced by many variables, including the composition of the underlying bedrock, the degree of weathering, biological processes, and human activity (Garrett 2013a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishing geochemical baselines in forest soils for environmental risk assessment in the Montague and Goldenville gold districts, Nova Scotia, Canada

Parsons

Little

2015

atgeol

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Mine tailings at historical gold districts in Nova Scotia, Canada, contain high concentrations of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg), which may represent a risk to ecosystems and human health. Two sites, Montague and Goldenville, are of particular concern as tailings are located close to residences and are occasionally used for racing off-road vehicles. Risk-assessment calculations require knowledge of the naturally occurring concentrations of As and Hg in soils overlying mineralized bedrock within these gold districts. In this study, we collected samples of the top 0-5 cm of surface soil (the Public Health layer) from 46 sites near Montague, and 39 sites near Goldenville. Samples of individual soil horizons (H, Ae, B, and C) were also taken from selected sites to evaluate the vertical distribution of elements in the soil profile. Results show that the concentrations of As and Hg in all soil horizons are generally higher downice, southeasterly, of the ore zones in both districts, reflecting glacial erosion and transport of mineralized bedrock. Analysis of the top 0-5 cm of soils shows the following ranges in As and Hg concentrations (<2 mm size fraction): Montague: As, 4-273 mg/kg (median 42 mg/kg); Hg, 72-490 µg/kg (median 164 µg/kg); Goldenville: As, 2-140 mg/kg (median 13 mg/kg); Hg, 39-312 µg/kg (median 114 µg/kg). In general, the concentrations of As are highest in the B and C horizons, whereas Hg concentrations are highest in humus (H). Results from this study have been used to assess the distribution of tailings at these sites, and to help guide risk-management decisions.. RÉSUMÉLes résidus miniers des districts aurifères historiques de la Nouvelle-Écosse, au Canada, renferment des concentrations élevées d'arsenic (As) et de mercure (Hg), qui pourraient poser un risque pour les écosystèmes et la santé humaine. Deux endroits, Montague et Goldenville, suscitent des préoccupations particulières, car les secteurs de rési-dus se trouvent à proximité des résidences et sont occasionnellement utilisés pour des courses de véhicules hors route. Les calculs d' évaluation des risques nécessitent une connaissance des concentrations naturelles d' As et de Hg dans les sols recouvrant le substrat rocheux minéralisé de ces districts aurifères. Nous avons recueilli, dans le cadre de cette étude, des échantillons de la couche supérieure de 0 à 5 cm du sol de surface (couche déterminée par la Santé publique) de 46 emplacements près de Montague et de 39 emplacements près de Goldenville. Des échantillons d'horizons pédo-logiques distincts (H, Ae, B et C) ont également été prélevés en certains endroits pour l' évaluation de la distribution verticale des éléments à l'intérieur du profil pédologique. Les résultats révèlent que les concentrations d' As et de Hg dans tous les horizons pédologiques sont généralement plus élevées en aval-glaciaire, en direction sud-est, des zones minéralisées des deux districts, ce qui correspond à l' érosion et au transport glaciaires du substrat rocheux minéralisé. Une analyse des cinq centimètr...

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Soils and Human Health

Cited by 47 publications

References 82 publications

Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production

Soil Erosion Threatens Food Production

Soil Contamination and Human Health: A Major Challenge for Global Soil Security

Establishing geochemical baselines in forest soils for environmental risk assessment in the Montague and Goldenville gold districts, Nova Scotia, Canada

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