Many people think of dirt as being dirty! Parents often tell their children not to play in dirt or to get it on their clothes. And there are reasons for that—soil often contains things like bacteria (细菌), parasites (寄生虫) and pollutants that can make people sick. With so many risks, it is no surprise that many people find geophagy—the eating of earth or soil-unacceptable.
Yet, geophagy is actually a common practice in many parts of the world. Since people tend to be very selective about which soil they eat, the practice has also created an industry. In Nigeria, the village of Uzalla processes over 500 tons of soil a year for sale and consumption in markets hundreds of kilometers away. Geophagy also has a long history in the U.S., where some eat soil and ship packages of it to relatives far from home. Soil is also sold as a nutritional supplement, similar to vitamins, in some parts of Asia.
The fact that the eating of soil is also widespread in the animal kingdom suggests that geophagy may even be a natural process.
Some soils are surprisingly rich in nutrients such as iron and copper. People can often get more of these nutrients from geophagy than from taking vitamins. This may be why the eating of soil is often most common among pregnant women and nursing mothers who use soil for certain nutrients they need.
Unfortunately, geophagy is also practiced to avoid hunger when other food is scarce. In poor countries, food can become so expensive that people substitute soil for flour or rice. This is a serious social problem because soil can’t provide a balanced diet though it is rich in nutrients.
Why do people think dirt is dirty? (No more than 10 words)
What led to the development of geophagy industry? (No more than 15 words)
Where does the eating of soil seem like a natural process? (No more than 5 words)
What does the underlined word “substitute” in the last paragraph mean? (No more than 1 word)
Do you think soil can take the place of food? Why? (No more than 25 words)