Guest guest Posted August 27, 2004 Report Share Posted August 27, 2004 While reading the story below about the use of ferns to clean up toxic metal contamination, I started thinking that some of the leafy green vegetables that we think are so good for us may actually concentrate toxins that might be bad for our health if they are grown on contaminated soil. Do you know where your veggies come from and what kind of soil they are grown on? Tony >>> Toxin Cleanup Goes Natural Army Uses Ferns to Absorb Spring Valley Arsenic By Manny Fernandez Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, August 26, 2004; Page B01 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has turned to an unlikely ally in its attempt to rid Washington's Spring Valley of contaminated soil -- ferns. That's right: The feathery plants that decorate countless gardens were discovered a few years ago to have an unusual talent beyond just sitting there and looking pretty. A certain kind was found to soak up arsenic from soil like a horticultural sponge. Blaylock, a scientist with Edenspace Systems Corp., examines ferns. " These plants have an unusual ability to take up very high concentrations of arsenic, " he says. The Corps of Engineers decided to test the fern's effectiveness in the Spring Valley neighborhood, which was built on land the Army used for experimenting with chemical agents and munitions during World War I. About 2,800 ferns were planted in May at three sites, part of the Corps of Engineers' investigation and cleanup of an area that includes American University, embassies and hundreds of residences. .... >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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