Toxicological and Public Health Aspects of Soil

the plants that grow on it, and the animals that consume these plants constitute an important connection between the geosphere and the biosphere and may influence human and animal health. In considering such a connection, it is important to keep in mind that the health status of people is influenced by several factors. A commonly accepted estimate of these factors is about 50% due to lifestyle, 10%-20% from genetic factors, 10%-20% from level of health care, and 20% from environment. The environment becomes much more important in highly polluted areas. 

A study published quite some time ago reviewed the soil-cancer relationship for gastric, esophageal, urinary, breast, bone, and bronchial cancers as well as pleural mesothelioma. In addition to general factors, the study considered trace elements including selenium, cesium, and rubidium potassium and natural radioactivity. Although some correlations between soil constituents and cancer have been observed, the cause and effect relationship between soil characteristics and occurrence of cancer could not be proved definitively. 

It may be concluded that the role of soil in environmental health is not definitively known and 

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