The contributions in this book describe the role soils play for plant, animal and human health. They show that soil- and human health are intricately connected, because healthy soils produce healthy crops, which in turn nourish humans and animals, allowing for their health and productivity. Soil quality directly influences the quality and quantity of food that can be produced, as soils provide essential macro- and micronutrients and attenuate environmental pollutants. On the other hand, these same pollutants, thus concentrated in soils, may cause soils to become toxic and degraded. Soils (and their crops) may also be responsible for exposure to pests and pathogens, while, at the same time, providing drug substances and may even suppress diseases. Soil quality is vital on a global scale, as more than 800 million people around the world are undernourished, implying that their intake of food is insufficient to meet their daily energy needs, and the deficiency of essential micronutrients is even more widespread. Nearly one third of the world's population is affected by zinc deficiency, while iron deficiency affects nearly 3 billion people. Climate change has been shown to affect animal and human health, and soils are intricately linked to the atmosphere by being both a source and sink of greenhouse gases. Soils are the largest active terrestrial reservoir of organic carbon and its sequestration in soils can be enhanced by improved management practices. The book summarizes the current state of research of these important issues and provides a comprehensive treatise of the global importance of soils to for humankind.

The term "soil health" refers to the functionality of a soil as a living ecosystem capable of sustaining plants, animals, and humans while also improving the environment. In addition to soil health, the environment also comprises the quality of air, water, vegetation, and biota. The health of soil, plants, animals, people, and the environment is an indivisible continuum. One of the notable ramifications of the Anthropocene is the growing risks of decline in soil health by anthropogenic activities. Important among these activities are deforestation, biomass burning, excessive soil tillage, indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, excessive irrigation by flooding or inundation, and extractive farming practices. Soil pollution, by industrial effluents and urban waste adversely impacts human health. Degradation of soil health impacts nutritional quality of food, such as the uptake of heavy metals or deficit of essential micro-nutrients, and contamination by pests and pathogens. Indirectly, soil health may impact human health through contamination of water and pollution of air. This book aims to: Present relationships of soil health to human health and soil health to human nutrition. Discuss the nexus between soil degradation and malnourishment as well as the important links between soil, plant, animal and human health. Detail reasons oil is a cause of infectious diseases and source of remedial measures. Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this informative volume covering various aspects of soil health appeals to soil scientists, environmental scientists and public health workers.

Despite the connections between soils and human health, there has not been a great amount of attention focused on this area when compared to many other fields of scientific and medical study. Soils and Human Health brings together authors from diverse fields with an interest in soils and human health, including soil science, geology, geography, biology, and anthropology to investigate this issue from a number of perspectives. The book includes a soil science primer chapter for readers from other fields, and discusses the ways the soil science community can contribute to improving our understanding of soils and human health. Features Discusses ways the soil science community can contribute to the improvement of soil health Approaches human health from a soils-focused perspective, covering the influence of soil conservation and contact with soil on human health Illustrates topics via case studies including arsenic in groundwater in Bangladesh; the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam; heavy metal contamination in Shipham, United Kingdom and Omaha, Nebraska, USA; and electronic waste recycling in China. In a scientific world where the trend has often been ever-increasing specialization and increasingly difficult communication between fields and subfields, the interdisciplinary nature of soils and human health studies presents a significant challenge going forward. Fields with an interest in soils and human health need to have increased cross-disciplinary communication and cooperation. This book is a step in the direction of accessibility and innovation, elucidating the state of knowledge in the meeting of soil and health sciences, and identifying places where more work is needed.

The term "soil health" refers to the functionality of a soil as a living ecosystem capable of sustaining plants, animals, and humans while also improving the environment. In addition to soil health, the environment also comprises the quality of air, water, vegetation, and biota. The health of soil, plants, animals, people, and the environment is an indivisible continuum. One of the notable ramifications of the Anthropocene is the growing risks of decline in soil health by anthropogenic activities. Important among these activities are deforestation, biomass burning, excessive soil tillage, indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, excessive irrigation by flooding or inundation, and extractive farming practices. Soil pollution, by industrial effluents and urban waste adversely impacts human health. Degradation of soil health impacts nutritional quality of food, such as the uptake of heavy metals or deficit of essential micro-nutrients, and contamination by pests and pathogens. Indirectly, soil health may impact human health through contamination of water and pollution of air. This book aims to: Present relationships of soil health to human health and soil health to human nutrition. Discuss the nexus between soil degradation and malnourishment as well as the important links between soil, plant, animal and human health. Detail reasons oil is a cause of infectious diseases and source of remedial measures. Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this informative volume covering various aspects of soil health appeals to soil scientists, environmental scientists and public health workers.

This book focuses on Egypt as a representative example of emerging economies struggling to achieve their sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Egyptian government has launched Egypt’s Vision 2030 in line with the 2030 Agenda, also known as the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS), which encompasses the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development. It is under the SDS that all development plans in Egypt are incorporated while at the same time being strongly guided by the SDGs. Aware of the principle of shared but differentiated responsibility, Egypt also recognizes that fundamental challenges remain, despite a strong willingness to achieve the SDGs. High birth rates, brain drain phenomena, water scarcity, migration, discrimination against women and girls, a growing informal sector and instability in neighboring states (especially Libya and Syria) are only some of the many hindrances to sustainable development. In order to address these challenges, Egypt relies heavily on the SDGs, which are aimed at transforming our world. Although there is an urgent need for a drastic change in the way we use the Earth, the question arises as to whether the SDGs are sufficient to facilitate such a transformation. This book explores the key environmentally related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offers a cutting-edge assessment of current progress with a view to reaching these objectives by 2030. The book highlights some of the key findings and ideas for how research may help achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in enterprises. The book provides a useful framework that can help and aid the Egyptian government to assess the many goals and targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda. The analysis of Egypt can be used as a blueprint for other developing nations and globally in order to guide policy toward achieving the SDGs. Covering food security, water resilience, climate change, agronomics, rural life, environmental impact assessment as a tool for measuring the achievement of the goals, Egyptian education, the COVID-19 pandemic, cultural and societal dimensions, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of sustainable development and climate change, as well as practitioners and policymakers involved in sustainable development and disaster management.

Water, soil, plants, and animals are the main pillars that support global food security. Plants grow using nutrients from water and soil resources and then used by animals which affects them consequently. Water is the essential condition of life for all living beings, and soil is its support and a crucial reservoir. The interactions between the Water-Soil-Plant-Animal nexus and climate change are of increasing concern to scholars, decision-makers, and researchers. The impacts of climate change on these resources include water and soil quality degradation, infectious disease, shortage, desertification, and erosion. These impacts are accelerated due to human pressure through over-use and pollution. Water-Soil-Plant-Animal Nexus in the Era of Climate Change includes relevant theoretical approaches, empirical research, and bibliometric and bibliographic methods to bring together affordable methods and techniques to optimize the use of the nexus in the context of climate change. It presents an inventory of techniques and practices in the field, and introduces an opportunity to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these techniques, making it ideal for scholars, researchers, planners, and decision-makers.

The fifth edition of this important book reviews recent advances in livestock mineral nutrition, updated throughout with new references that reflect the growing complexity of mineral metabolism. Major related themes covered include the assessment of the 'mineral value' of feeds, the false hopes placed on organic mineral supplements and limiting the 'mineral footprint' of livestock production to lower environmental pollution. Following a clear and easy to reference structure, the book also considers potential pitfalls, such as misleading estimates of mineral requirements for growth, and misinterpretation of genomic markers for mineral requirements and bioavailability of supplements. An essential resource for researchers and students in animal nutrition, agriculture and veterinary medicine, this book also forms a useful reference for veterinary practitioners and those concerned with human nutrition and environmental protection.