Note: Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Editor -- Contributors -- Chapter 1 The Soil-Human Health-Environment Trinity -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Soil Organic Matter in Relation to the Health of Soil and the Environment -- 1.3 Historic Depletion of the Terrestrial C Stock -- 1.4 Soil Organic Matter Depletion and Soil/Environment Degradation -- 1.5 The Soil-Human Health Nexus -- 1.6 Interconnected Vicious Cycles Prevalent in Degraded Soils of Agroecosystems -- 1.7 Choice of Entry Points for Breaking the Vicious Circles -- 1.8 Enhancing Human Nutrition by Soil Management -- 1.9 Research and Development Priorities -- 1.10 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 2 Health of Soil, Plants, Animals, and People -- 2.1 Overview -- 2.2 One Health -- 2.3 Soil Health -- 2.3.1 Soil and Life -- 2.3.2 Soil Health -- 2.3.3 Soil Health and Human Health -- 2.3.4 Soil Management and Human Health -- 2.4 Plant Health -- 2.4.1 Soil Health and Its Indicators in Agriculture System -- 2.4.2 Plant Pathogens and Their Caused Destructive Diseases on Plants -- 2.4.3 Agricultural Practices Affect Plant and Soil Health -- 2.4.4 Plant- and Soil-Associated Microbiomes for Plant Growth and Health -- 2.5 Animal Health -- 2.5.1 Livestock Production-Soil and Plant Health -- 2.5.2 Effects of Soil on Animal Health -- 2.5.3 Effects of Plants on Animal Health -- 2.5.4 Effect of Animals on Soil and Plant Health -- 2.6 Human Health -- 2.6.1 Human Activity Impacts Soil Health -- 2.6.2 Soil Impact Physically -- 2.6.3 Soil Impact on Human Nutrition -- 2.6.4 Toxic Compounds in Soil Impact Human Health -- 2.6.5 Soil Pathogens -- 2.6.6 Soil as Source of Modern Antibiotics and Other Benefits -- 2.7 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 3 Transport of Mineral Elements from Soil and Human Health -- 3.1 Introduction. , 3.2 Transport of Essential Mineral Elements in Rice -- 3.2.1 Transport of Fe in Rice -- 3.2.2 Transport of Zn in Rice -- 3.3 Transport of Toxic Elements -- 3.3.1 Transport of As in Rice -- 3.3.2 Transport of Cd in Rice -- 3.4 Future Perspective -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 4 Soils and Human Health: Communication between Soil Scientists and Health Care Providers -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.1.1 Brief Overview of Soils and Human Health Connections -- 4.1.1.1 Writings by Soil Scientists and Geologists -- 4.1.1.2 Writings by Human Health Professionals -- 4.1.2 Soil Health (As Defined) Represents a Key Life Sustaining "Factor" Just as Clean Air and Clean and Abundant Water -- 4.2 Soils Knowledge Useful to the Practitioner -- 4.2.1 Basic Soil Physical and Chemical Properties -- 4.2.2 Basic Soil Biological Properties -- 4.2.3 Soil Health -- 4.2.4 Soil and Climate Connections -- 4.3 Ways to Facilitate Communication -- 4.3.1 Publications in Jointly Read Journals -- 4.3.2 Facilitating Joint Conferences -- 4.3.3 University Education That Crosses Disciplines -- 4.4 Concluding Statements -- Acknowledgements -- References -- Chapter 5 Soil and Cancer -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Carcinogenesis -- 5.3 Carcinogens -- 5.4 Soil Health -- 5.4.1 Soil Composition -- 5.4.1.1 Selenium -- 5.4.1.2 Lead -- 5.4.1.3 Arsenic -- 5.4.1.4 Trichloroethylene -- 5.4.1.5 Perfluorooctanoic Acid -- 5.4.1.6 1,2-Dichloropropane -- 5.4.1.7 Dichloromethane -- 5.4.1.8 1,3-Propane Sultone -- 5.4.1.9 Fibrous Glaucophane -- 5.4.1.10 Radon -- 5.4.2 Pollution -- 5.4.3 Pesticides -- 5.4.3.1 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma -- 5.4.3.2 Leukemia -- 5.4.3.3 Brain Cancer -- 5.4.3.4 Breast Cancer -- 5.4.3.5 Kidney Cancer -- 5.4.3.6 Pancreatic Cancer -- 5.4.3.7 Prostate Cancer -- 5.4.3.8 Lung Cancer -- 5.4.3.9 Stomach Cancer -- 5.5 Nutrition -- 5.6 Possible Interventions -- 5.6.1 Selenium -- 5.6.2 Phenols. , 5.6.3 Outside-the-Box Therapies -- Appendix -- References -- Chapter 6 Addressing Urban Mal- and Undernourishment through Sustainable Home Gardens -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Malnutrition -- 6.3 Micronutrient Deficiency in Diet and Human Health -- 6.4 Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables -- 6.5 Heavy Metal and Contaminants in Urban Soil and Human Health -- 6.6 Home Gardens for Fruits and Vegetables -- 6.7 Yields of Fruits and Vegetables in the Home Gardens -- 6.8 Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 7 Improving Human Health by Remediating Polluted Soils -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Soil Pollutant Problems -- 7.2.1 Prevention -- 7.2.1.1 Combustibles (Organics) -- 7.2.1.2 Inorganic Toxins (Metals) -- 7.2.1.3 Biotoxins -- 7.3 Already Polluted Soil Remediation -- 7.3.1 Phytoremediation -- 7.3.2 "Treatment" with Powdered Basalt -- 7.3.3 Desalinated Water Soil Washing -- 7.4 Discussion -- 7.5 Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 8 Managing Soil for Global Peace by Eliminating Famines and Pandemics -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.1.1 State-of-the-World Soils -- 8.1.2 Soil and Human Health -- 8.2 Population -- 8.2.1 Global Trends -- 8.2.2 Urbanization -- 8.3 Famines -- 8.3.1 Global History -- 8.3.2 Causes of Famines -- 8.4 Pandemics and Hunger -- 8.4.1 Global History -- 8.4.2 Population and Pandemics -- 8.5 Achieving Zero Hunger and Malnutrition by 2030 -- 8.6 The Soil-Peace-Famine-Pandemic Nexus -- 8.7 Lessons Learned from Historic Pandemics and Famines -- 8.7.1 Knowledge Gaps -- 8.8 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 9 Illustrating a Disjoint in the Soil-Plant-Human Health Nexus with Potassium -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Definitions -- 9.3 Potassium as an Indicator for Health Outcomes -- 9.4 Review -- 9.4.1 Search Process -- 9.4.2 Soil Health and Potassium -- 9.4.2.1 Potassium Status in Global Croplands -- 9.4.3 Plant Health and Potassium. , 9.4.3.1 Potassium for Yield Building -- 9.4.3.2 Potassium for Quality Improvement -- 9.4.3.3 Potassium for Biotic and Abiotic Stress Management -- 9.4.4 Human Health and Potassium -- 9.4.4.1 Dietary Potassium Requirement in Humans -- 9.4.4.2 Food Sources for Dietary Potassium -- 9.4.4.3 Dietary Potassium Intake in Different Countries/Regions -- 9.4.4.4 Potassium and Disease Incidence -- 9.4.4.5 Potassium in Immune System Disorders -- 9.4.4.6 Potassium in Cancer and Autoimmune Diseases -- 9.4.4.7 Potassium and Infectious Diseases -- 9.5 Interactions among Health Components -- 9.5.1 Case Study -- 9.5.1.1 Potato as a Source of Nutrients and Energy -- 9.5.1.2 Linking Soil and Potato Plant Health to Human Health -- 9.5.1.3 Postharvest Fate of Tuber Nutrients -- 9.6 Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 10 Soil Aquaphotomics for Understanding Soil-Health Relation through Water-Light Interaction -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Foundations of Aquaphotomics -- 10.3 Soil Health and Aquaphotomics -- 10.4 Aquaphotomics in Water Quality Assessment and Monitoring -- 10.5 Aquaphotomics in Microbiology -- 10.6 Aquaphotomics and Plant-Soil System Health -- 10.7 Implications to Human Health and Future Perspectives -- List of Abbreviations -- References -- Chapter 11 Healthy Soils-Healthy People: Soil and Human Health-The Reality of the Balkan Region -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Natural Characteristics of the Region -- 11.2.1 Geomorphological Characteristics -- 11.2.2 Climate Characteristics -- 11.2.3 Forests -- 11.2.4 Water Resources -- 11.2.5 Biodiversity Conservation and Management -- 11.3 Soils of the Region -- 11.4 State of the Soil and the Main Degradation Drivers -- 11.4.1 Climate Change -- 11.4.2 Soil Erosion and Torrential Floods -- 11.4.3 Agriculture and Land Degradation -- 11.4.3.1 Loss of SOC -- 11.4.3.2 Acidification and Salinization -- 11.4.4 Forestry. , 11.4.5 Urbanization -- 11.4.6 Mass Movements on Slopes -- 11.4.7 Waste Management -- 11.4.8 Energetics, Mining, and Industry -- 11.5 Soil Pollution and Human Health -- 11.6 Land Use Changes and Land Degradation Neutrality -- 11.7 Concluding Remarks -- References -- Chapter 12 Heavy Metals Bioavailability in Soils and Impact on Human Health -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Sources of Heavy Metals -- 12.2.1 Parent Material -- 12.2.1.1 Black Shales -- 12.2.1.2 Limestones -- 12.2.1.3 Phosphorites -- 12.2.1.4 Sedimentary Ironstones -- 12.2.2 Anthropogenic Sources of Heavy Metals -- 12.2.2.1 Fertilizers -- 12.2.2.2 Sewage Effluents and City Wastes -- 12.2.2.3 Industrial Wastes -- 12.2.2.4 Vehicle Transport -- 12.3 Soil Factors Affecting Heavy Metal Mobility and Bioavailability in Soils -- 12.3.1 Soil pH -- 12.3.2 Soil Texture -- 12.3.3 Soil Organic Matter Content and Its Form -- 12.3.4 Oxidation-Reduction Potential -- 12.3.5 Ionic Strength -- 12.3.6 Chemical Speciation and Nature of Contamination -- 12.3.7 Iron and Manganese Oxides -- 12.4 Pathways of Metal Transfer to Humans -- 12.4.1 Media Serving as Carriers of Heavy Metals -- 12.4.2 Avenues of Transfer of the Heavy Metals from the Carriers to Humans -- 12.4.3 Transfer of Heavy Metals from Soil to Plants to Humans -- 12.4.4 Impact of Heavy Metals on Human Health -- 12.5 Measures to Reduce Bioavailability of Heavy Metals -- 12.5.1 Regulation of pH of the Holding Medium Such as Soil -- 12.5.2 Agricultural Measures to Reduce Metal Transfer to the Food Chain -- 12.5.3 Extraction of the Metals from the Soil -- 12.5.4 Use of Chemical Stabilizers to Prohibit Bioavailability -- 12.6 Summary and Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 13 Managing Soil Biology for Multiple Human Benefits -- 13.1 Introduction: The Many Benefits That Humans Obtain from Soil Biodiversity. , 13.2 Promoting Specific Ecosystem Functions with Targeted Introductions of Soil Biota.