Intact, ‘healthy’ soils provide indispensable ecosystem services that largely depend on the biotic activity. Soil health is connected with human health, yet, knowledge of the underlying soil functioning remains incomplete. This review highlights selected services, i.e. (i) soil as a genetic resource and hotspot of biodiversity, forming the basis for providing (ii) biochemical resources and (iii) medicinal services and goods. Soils harbour an unrivalled biodiversity of organisms, especially microorganisms. Some of the abilities of autochthonous microorganisms and their relevant enzymes serve (i) to improve natural soil functions and in particular plant growth, e.g. through beneficial plant growth-promoting, symbiotic and mycorrhizal microorganisms, (ii) to act as biopesticides, (iii) to facilitate biodegradation of pollutants for soil bioremediation and (iv) to yield enzymes or chemicals for industrial use. Soils also exert direct effects on human health. Contact with soil enriches the human microbiome, affords protection against allergies and promotes emotional well-being. Medicinally relevant are soil substrates such as loams, clays and various minerals with curative effects as well as pharmaceutically active organic chemicals like antibiotics that are formed by soil microorganisms. By contrast, irritating minerals, soil dust inhalation and misguided soil ingestion may adversely affect humans.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The role of soils in delivering Nature’s Contributions to People.

完整的“健康”土壤提供了不可或缺的生态系统服务，而这些服务在很大程度上取决于生物活动。土壤健康与人类健康息息相关，然而，对土壤底层功能的了解仍然不完整。本次审查重点介绍了选定的服务，即（i）土壤作为遗传资源和生物多样性热点，构成提供（ii）生化资源和（iii）医疗服务和商品的基础。土壤蕴藏着无与伦比的生物多样性，尤其是微生物。原生微生物及其相关酶的一些能力可用于（i）改善自然土壤功能，特别是植物生长，例如通过有益的促进植物生长、共生和菌根微生物，（ii）充当生物农药，（iii）促进污染物的生物降解，用于土壤生物修复；(iv) 产生工业用途的酶或化学品。土壤也对人类健康产生直接影响。与土壤的接触可以丰富人体微生物群，防止过敏并促进情绪健康。与医学相关的是土壤基质，如壤土、粘土和具有疗效的各种矿物质，以及具有药物活性的有机化学物质，如由土壤微生物形成的抗生素。相比之下，刺激性矿物质、土壤灰尘吸入和错误的土壤摄入可能会对人类产生不利影响。

本文是主题“土壤在向人类提供自然贡献中的作用”的一部分。