In article <481b5c72$0$30521$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, Persephone
wrote:
> 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
>
>
> >
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic_contamination_of_groundwater
Approximately 20 incidents of groundwater arsenic contamination have
been re****ted from all over the world. [2] Of these, four major
incidents were in Asia, including locations in Thailand, Taiwan, and
Mainland China.[3] [4] South American countries like Argentina and Chile
have also been affected. There are also many locations in the United
States where the groundwater contains arsenic concentrations in excess
of the new Environmental Protection Agency standard of 10 parts per
billion.
Arsenic is a carcinogen which causes many cancers including skin, lung,
and bladder as well as cardiovascular disease.
--
Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTfcAyYGg&ref=patrick.net
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=7WBB0svwMdY&feature=related
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