Lead Poisoning

• Lead can be found in soil in a number of ways, such as due to the presence of a nearby gas station or thanks to paint chips that have fallen from buildings that were decorated with lead-based paints. Lead is a toxin that can have substantial damaging effects on the nervous systems of kids, and lead such illnesses as lung and kidney cancer over time, while small amounts can still cause problems such as hearing loss. Symptoms of lead poisoning include headaches and other pains, irritability and an inability to sleep.
  
  

Bowel Problems

• Soil can be full of tiny objects and substances, such as strands of hair and pieces of cloth. When ingested, these can make their way to a child's bowels and cause pain. Doctors often use X-ray imaging to detect the presence of these objects when a child is reporting bowel problems.
  
  

Coliform Bacteria

• Most soil is crawling with bacteria, with the most dangerous arguably being coliform bacteria. Though humans have plenty of these bacteria in their bodies already, when found in soil the presence of these bacteria tends to indicate that the earth contains untreated sewage. Consuming coliform bacteria in this way can lead to bouts of diarrhoea, and worse, kids could contract E. coli O157:H7, which attacks the kidneys. In up to 7 percent of cases, E. coli O157:H7 results in hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which can cause kidney shutdown.
  
  

Parasitic Infections

• Soil can be filled with parasites, such as worms like the Toxocara canis, often found in soil that has been contaminated by animal faeces. This worn can lead to the infection toxocariasis, which can result in a range of problems, including joint pain. The Ascaris lumbricoides worm, meanwhile, is responsible for the spread of ascariasis, which can lead to intestinal obstructions.
  
  

Object Fragments

• While soil is full of minute dangers kids won't be able to detect, it can also contain larger objects that have been buried or else scattered within. These could include bits of pottery, for instance, that can cause dental injuries if bitten into, or, worse, shards of glass, which could lacerate a child's throat if consumed.