Bioremediation Legislation proposed by joint Republican and Democrat Groups

Bioremediation uses pre-existing methods to purify the soil from toxins.  All of the toxins exist within organic carbon-based compounds.  The toxin itself attaches to the carbon molecules.  Through the use of plants or soil microbes the toxins are consumed and carbon dioxide is released as a by-product into atmosphere.  Microbes decompose the carbon-based compounds faster if they have nitrogen and phosphates to feed on too.  The nitrogen and phosphates can either be provided through adding biosolids to the site, or adding plants.  Bioremediation would be used on a site with organic toxins such as a farmland that has been over sprayed with weed killer or insecticides.

As well as the organic toxins, a site may also contain harmful inorganic metals.  These metals cannot be decomposed.  Instead the metals must either be removed from the soil. Phytoremediation makes use of plants that absorb the metals.  Although the plants usually die, they can be removed from the site and thus the metals too.  Phytoremediation can be used around old mining sites or in areas downstream of mining sites where the metals have been deposited and make an unhealthy place for people to live.

Soil remediation is the process of getting rid of or just improving soil and sediment contaminants that threaten human health or an ecosystem. It could involve taking the hazardous form of metals like lead and changing them to a less soluble form with less bioavailability.  Biosolids, ash or other resources can be used to help in this change.  I am not sure exactly what the difference between soil remediation and the two others types.  Soil remediation seems to encompass the other two.

The American Horticulture society is conducting a project for soil remediation.  They have found a subtropical fern that has the ability to absorb arsenic from the ground at an amazing rate.  At a National Capital Area Federation of Garden Clubs meeting in April 38 members were given three ferns and a home soil test kit.  They will be measuring the amount of arsenic in the soil before the ferns have been planted and then at various times after they have been planted.  This September, fronds from the ferns were cut and sent to a laboratory to be tested.