Most trace elements are naturally occurring and are part of the environment. Human activities tend to redistribute trace elements and contaminate other environmental compartments through the production, use, and disposal of products containing potentially toxic trace elements (PTTEs) (e.g. electronics, paints, dyes, batteries, and weapons used in armed conflict). Land application of waste residue and wastewater, pesticides, and certain fertilizers can contaminate agricultural soils. Once accumulated in soils, most trace elements persist in soils. Therefore, we need to create a safe living environment that minimizes the impact of contaminants while taking precautions to prevent or reduce further addition of potentially toxic contaminants to the environment. Soil is a resourceful sink for many contaminants. Soil can naturally detoxify and retain contaminants, restricting their bioavailability. This ability of soil to detoxify and retain contaminants is also referred to as natural attenuation, which means that natural soil processes can alter contaminants in ways that reduce their toxicity and mobility, limiting their ability to transfer into water bodies or accumulate in plants and animals, including humans. However, it should be noted that exceeding the threshold or capacity of natural attenuation in soil will result in contaminants becoming more readily available for transfer and transport within and from the soil. Managing such soils will therefore require interventions to mitigate their impact. Various chemical and biological reactions in soil transform contaminants into stable compounds that are less likely to dissolve in water or be taken up by plants. In addition to transforming contaminants, soil can also physically and chemically bind them, restricting their movement through the environment. Soil’s capacity to detoxify or retain contaminants is contaminant-specific and depends on soil properties such as organic matter content, clay content, soil pH, and soil mineralogy. Managing soil to maintain a safe level of the transfer of contaminants into living beings, either directly or indirectly via the food chain, is of utmost importance. By immobilizing and detoxifying contaminants, soil acts as a critical barrier that reduces the risk of these substances entering food chains, such as the crops we eat, or contaminating drinking water. Our goal should be to manage soil, minimize transfer, and maintain a safe level of contaminant transfer into living beings.