Rare earth elements (REE) are a homogenous group of 17 chemical elements in the
periodic table that are key to many modern industries including chemicals, consumer …

This paper reviews how the health of humans is affected by the world's soils, an association
that to date has been under appreciated and under reported. Soils significantly influence a …

The idea that human health is tied to the soil is not a new one. As far back as circa 1400 BC
the Bible depicts Moses as understanding that fertile soil was essential to the well-being of …

In-vitro gastrointestinal extraction, also known as oral bioaccessibility, is important when
assessing chemical risk to humans. In use, it purports to simulate the release of chemicals …

Lake Victoria, East Africa, has been the site of many recent studies measuring mercury (Hg)
concentrations in water, fish, sediment, soil, and humans. Most of these studies were …

Geophagy is the deliberate consumption of soil and clay deposits by animals, including
man. Various hypotheses have been advanced to explain geophagic behavior, the main …

Pica, the purposive consumption of nonfood substances, is a millennia-old nutritional
enigma. Its worldwide ubiquity, prevalence among pregnant women and children, and …

Mama Sharifa bent at the waist as much as her pregnant belly would allow to idly slap at a
fly on her ankle. Then she looked away from us.“I just eat it, that's all.” Her pink and orange …

Geophagy has been hypothesized to be an adaptive behavior, either as a means to allay
nutrient deficiency or to protect against ingested pathogens and toxins. Others have …

This study presents the results of an environmental assessment of mercury (Hg)
contamination in the Rwamagasa artisanal gold mining area, northwest Tanzania, and the …