Re: Soil images at nanoscale.

On Fri, 2 May 2008 17:18:59 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
<mary.fisher@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>
>"symplastless" <symplastless@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
>news:fNWdnXH8rqdno4fVnZ2dnUVZ_oKhnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>> <Persephone> wrote in message 
>> news:4819dc5b$0$5143$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>
>>>
>>> At this URL:
>>>
>>> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428104525.htm
>>>
>>> there is a fascinating article about soil viewed as never seen before
>>> -- at nanoscale!
>
>That was interesting but another page, about how tree ferns can soak up 
>arsenic from contaminated land, was too. I was amused by the statement:
>
>" ... ferns clean up contaminated soil by a process called
phytoremediation. 
>A contaminant -- like arsenic -- is absorbed through the plant's roots.
The 
>arsenic then moves up to the leaves where it's stored. The leaves can
then 
>be cut off. "
>
>And then what? How do you dispose safely of the leaves??
>
>Mary

Yes, I saw that one, but wasn't sure if it would be of interest.
After all, how many of us gardeners have arsenic-y land? <g> 

But now that the question has been raised, how/why DOES
land become contaminated with arsenic?  Any chemists around
who might know whether it is a by-product of some industrial
or milit ary process?

Inquiring minds...

Aspasia


>