Genetically modified plants vacuum up toxins »

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  STONERS

  Oct. 16, 2007, 11:26 a.m.

  "A group of British researchers, meanwhile, has developed genetically altered plants that can clean residues of military explosives from the environment."

  "Phytoremediation is basically a solar-powered pollutant-removal system."

  "It uses the plant's natural ability to extract chemicals from water, soil, and air."
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  bruhaha

  Oct. 16, 2007, 2:52 p.m.

  I work in the environmental consulting field here in the Chicago suburbs. I have heard that BP stations at some places use a certain type of tree, planted in a row, downgradient from the underground storage tanks and associated piping, pumps, etc.) (meaning if groundwater flows to the south, they'd plant the tries along the southern property boundary). I don't remember what type of trees these are, but they absorb a lot of water, and therefore take up any contamination that me result from a leak as the contamination will generally follow the hydraulic gradient.
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  mudkipz

  Oct. 16, 2007, 3:49 p.m.

  This is good for the environment. Well, I'm glad some people are actually "doing" something, instead of just organizing conferences and "raising awareness" by talking about it.
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  afoaf

  Oct. 16, 2007, 5:50 p.m.

  Paul Stamets has also noted the use of mushroom mycelium to help

  clean up superfund sites. Similar principle, different plant.

  http://www.fungi.com/books/stamets.html
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  dandt1612

  Oct. 16, 2007, 5:54 p.m.

  Wow this is GREAT!!
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  Eagle_Eye

  Oct. 16, 2007, 8:24 p.m.

  Many answers to our problems lie in nature. Sadly many species are extinct that may have provided us other solution/medications.
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  AssumedName

  Oct. 17, 2007, 8:07 a.m.

  This is a lovely idea, but can anyone tell me what happens when the toxins "accidentally" spread to more and more plant life? Has anyone thought about the fact that the plants themselves could become toxic??? How long has the study been going on? Is it going to be a case like putting out miracle drugs to heal our ailing bodies "FDA approved" then recalling the drug because there wasn't enough research? What if these plants soak up too much toxin and start putting it back into the soil. What if it spreads to our drinking water? What if the drinking water becomes even more contaminated than it already is? In my opinion there should be more research done before they start putting these plants into our precious soil.
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  Cityslicker

  Oct. 17, 2007, 8:42 a.m.

  Of course, naturally occurring plants can do the work as well, but they are too slow.

  "We need a faster, less expensive method to remove carcinogenic pollutants from the environment so they will no longer be ignored," she said.

  So says someone fishing for grant money !

  So what happens to the wood from the felled trees ?

  I can see it now CDC taking furniture from houses for toxin coming from it or someone burning the wood and releasing the toxin into the air .
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  bumbaklotartattack

  Oct. 17, 2007, 9:27 a.m.

  And then western corporations can sell these toxic-infested products to Americans who don't label their GMO per the FDA, and look at all the lemmings saying "gyuck gyuck gyuck, das gewd rat dar cuz we bey heppin da earf."

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