brake fern

[low_delta]

A friend is building a new porch. Wisconsin law requires that all lumber used in foundation work be treated lumber. Unfortunately, it is treated with arsenic (among other things). Fortunately, his wife found a phytoremediative plant, which absorbs the arsenic from the ground. Unfortunately, it is a tropical fern and won't live in Wisconsin. Maybe they can keep it alive for the few months of the summer.

Comments

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

so, just what are they remediating?.....

there are alternatives to CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate).........unless the state of WI has legislated themselves into the dark ages.....

and if this fern uptakes arsenic, just what are they going to do with the arsenic contaminated greenery?

best to keep it below grade than to bring it up for the kids to play with.......

CCA transition info......

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/citizens/cca_transition.htm

i still believe that having the arsenic below grade it preferable to having it out in the fern.....

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The lumber will all be above grade, sitting on top of concrete, I think. He mentioned having to periodically remove and destroy all the greenery. I suggested he should merely keep it painted. I have no idea what the alternatives are, or exactly what the wood does contain.

Re:

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

the lumber is all above grade?.......i'd use that new "natural select" lumber without the arsenic....otherwise, just where is he going to dispose of that arsenic tainted greenery?......landfills don't take green stuff....it wouldn't be good to compost it.....burning would be a bad thing.....haz material disposal is very spendy......

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

That's the problem with toxic chemicals - they just stay around.

He could just bury the greenery inside some garbage, and they'd never know it was in the bag.

Re:

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

i really can't believe you said that......

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

:-D

I prefer not to do that. But a few plants here and there, no big deal. Especially when it is something that can't be composted. I usually trash my weed seeds. Of course, there's toxic waste going into the landfills, but that's the lesser evil. Unless someone can show me a good toxic waste disposal service.

Re:

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

it's my preference not to generate haz-waste.....of course, that's a great reason to lengthen the oil change period on my cruiser.....

here in anchorage, CCA treated wood waste is landfilled......but,"haz-waste"is treated differently.....so, terminology can sometimes get ya into a mire of regulations.....

we have a municipal composting facility for compostable vegetation......but i just have a huge pile of compostable matter in the back along the property line......it doesn't hurt anything.....but i don't use it in my flower beds

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Same here. I throw my brush and grass clippings into a pile, behind the yard, but I don't dig it up to use for compost. Maybe at my next place I'll try to use it.

My recycling center takes used motor oil.

*busted*

[vlinker.livejournal.com]

the muni takes motor oil for recycling.........and also takes paint thinners, etc........up to 5 gallons per household per month........really, a pretty good program......so instead of being environmentally friendly, i am just lazy regarding my cruiser's oil changes.......

[attelage.livejournal.com]

If the lumber is all above grade sitting on concrete, the plants won't make a difference any way.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I think they were concerned about rain running down the wood and taking arsenic with it.

I think they may have given up some of their concern over it, by now. :-)

[attelage.livejournal.com]

That's good!
There are more dire chemical issues to worry about. We use treated fence posts and boards for our fence and barn. One of the great things about mother nature is between the rain and the soil she has created a marvelous filtration system, even including plants to help out. Gotta love her.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

The problem is, with many of these chemicals and heavey metals, they never really go away. Ma does good filtering, but how do you clean the filter? Our area has a few decades-old dumps which are leaching chemicals into the groundwater, and forcing some homeowners to close their wells and buy water.

[attelage.livejournal.com]

Heavy concentrations, such as those found at dumps and landfills are a horse with different spots compared to such limited uses as what most people do at their homes, such as building with treated materials. I do agree the concentrations are a huge problem that even Ma earth can't handle without some help from the caretakers, us!