Danger Dust

Often overlooked, soil is one of our planet's largest living ecosystems and the foundation of our lives. It provides 95% of our food, supports global biodiversity and helps balance the climate by storing atmospheric carbon.

Soil is also a huge source of raw materials, from iron ore and bauxite (the rock used to make aluminum) to natural gas which is used to power our society.

A new report from Save Soil—a campaign from the global people's movement Conscious Planet—outlines the surprising ways that healthy soil is directly connected to our mental and physical health.

Literally touching soil, including walking barefoot on it or getting your hands dirty, can improve your gut health. We carry many of the same bacteria as soil does in our intestines and on our skin. So the human body is covered inside and out with microbes that are found in soil.