many US farmers think fly ash is a good thing to put on their crop land

[ensho]

http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/recycling-coal-waste-at-farms


Is recycling coal fly ash at farms environmentally safe?

Tons of coal fly ash--the same substance that caused a massive emergency in Tennessee--are recycled in soil, raising questions about buildup of arsenic and other toxic substances in food crops.


-snip-

Tons of fly ash are routinely added to soil to nourish vegetables, peanuts and other crops, primarily in the Midwest and Southeast. But now the spill has raised questions about whether this longstanding agricultural practice is environmentally sound.

-snip-

Adding moderate amounts increases crop yields and stabilizes soils while reducing the need to throw huge quantities in landfills or holding ponds, said Yuncong Li, University of Florida professor of soil and water sciences.

However, fly ash contains various amounts of toxic metals. And studies have shown that food crops grown in large amounts can soak up hazardous concentrations of arsenic.

-snip-

For more than a decade, companies have mixed fly ash with other waste to produce soil and compost. About 50,000 tons are used annually for agriculture nationwide.

One example is N-Viro, an international corporation that specializes in turning waste material into products. The company uses 250 tons of fly ash per day to mix with bio-solids, said Raymond Mayo, Florida N-Viro plant manager. The mixture is then heated to kill bacteria and monitored before it is distributed to farms, added Mayo.

-snip-

A recent report released by the environmental law firm Earthjustice says 25 million tons of coal ash are dumped into American mines every year, threatening ground water.

-snip-

“I myself have been denied permits from the state of Florida to even conduct research,” Li said.
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of course it affects us, how could it not.

I'd rather have my food raised in fly ash free soil.

down with coal Barons

[PDJane]

1. I'd much rather have my carrots

free of mercury and heavy metals, thank you very much.

[WindRiverMan]

2. As every toxicologist knows, the DOSE determines whether it is

a poison. It is true for Tylenol, valium, and even water.

[ensho]

3. the BUT is, that even the scientist isn't allowed to investigate

to even know doses

[PufPuf23]

4. Problem is that heavy metals accumulate

because of high valence.

Heavy metals accumulate by mechnical process in the soil.

Heavy metals bio-accumulate in plants, animals, and the food chain in general.

This occurs in agriculture practices and the natural world.

The problem is not just direct toxicity but also effects on reproduction, cancers, etc.

I would not consider ash with heavy metals used as a soil amendment wise soil conservation in any case.

[HillbillyBob]

5. So you are a toxicologist? I used to live near where the mining is done

destroying the country side poisoning wells, streams and local farmland.
NO heavy metals in my food thank you very much, since I have already tested positive for such, and I did not eat lead based paint, or mercury thermometers.
Heavy metals don't flush out of the body they just continue to add up.
If you can afford kelation therapy, which I cannot that helps to take some out, but not all. Coal has trace amounts or some times larger concentrations of arsenic, uranium, mercury, lead(since I am nursing a migraine I cannot remember what all else) but no amount is good for you.
On the other hand fly ash has been used in concrete supposedly locking it up for the life of the concrete.
The only sure way is to stop burning coal. solar farm covering the same area of land as a nuke or coal plant will produce the same power, especially if it is one of the concentrator/salt boiler systems that can run day AND night.
Much cleaner, lower (but not by much than a coal plant, much less than a nuke) cost, lower maintenance cost, and will last as long or longer.

[wolfgangmo]

6. Don't panic

Eat organic.


This is a link to local farmers markets, organic farms and CSA's www.localharvest.org.

There is better food out there.

[backscatter712]

7. Mmmm, I love the taste of mercury in my brocolli!

:silly: