Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- July 10, 2007
Synthetic clays can reduce heavy metals found in soils. (:49)
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Suggested Intro:
AS AN ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE NATION'S RUST BELT, PENNSYLVANIA HAS MANY INDUSTRIAL SITES WHERE HEAVY METALS HAVE CONTAMINATED THE SOIL. BUT A PENN STATE SOIL SCIENTIST SAYS SYNTHETIC CLAYS COULD REPAIR THE DAMAGE. MORE FROM GARY ABDULLAH:
Story:
(:20) TRADITIONALLY, SOIL CONTAMINATED BY METALS AT INDUSTRIAL SITES COULD ONLY BE EXCAVATED AND DUMPED INTO LANDFILLS. BUT PENN STATE SOIL RESEARCHER JASON STUCKEY SAYS SPECIALLY MODIFIED MICAS OR CLAYS CAN TRAP COPPER AND OTHER METALS, KEEPING THEM OUT OF GROUND WATER. STUCKEY SAYS THE CLAYS ARE BEST USED IN AREAS WHERE METAL CONTAMINATION IS ON THE SURFACE:
Stuckey Actuality:
(:18) "WELL, LET'S SAY, LIKE IN AN INNER CITY, MAYBE YOU HAD A HOUSE THAT WAS DEMOLISHED THAT HAD LEAD-BASED PAINT, AND NOW THESE PAINT CHIPS ARE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE SOIL SURFACE AND NOW YOU HAVE LEAD CONTAMINATION ON THE SURFACE. NEAR MINING OPERATIONS, COPPER SMELTING PLANTS, WHERE THE STACKS WILL EMIT COPPER-CONTAINING PARTICULATES…."(:11) STUCKEY SAYS THE CLAYS COULD HELP REDUCE URBAN SPRAWL BY MAKING CONTAMINATED URBAN SITES SAFE FOR USE AGAIN. WHILE STILL EXPERIMENTAL, SPECIALLY MODIFIED CLAY COULD BE MASS-PRODUCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
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