SOIL BIODIVERSITY AND HUMAN HEALTH

Figure: Soil biodiversity and human health link

Nutrient cycling and food production Allergies and autoimmune diseases

Contributes to the production of nutritious crops (we consume the nutrients in the food we eat) Exposure to diverse microorganisms in soil helps modulate the immune system

Soil contamination and human exposure Recreational and therapeutic

Toxin carrier organisms may pose risk to human health (by contact or consumption of food grown) Soil rich areas such as gardens and forests have shown to provide psychological and
emotional benefits

Reference: Wall, D. H., Nielsen, U. N., & Six, J. (2015). Soil biodiversity and human health. Nature, 528(7580), 69-76.