Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
On 20 Dec, 2004, at 13:48, Bill Sanderson wrote: I worry more about lead from years of paint scraping than I do about pressure treated wood, and I don't worry much about the lead. There is relatively little exterior lead contamination from lead paint scraping in the UC Area. (Interior is a different story.) However, that is more than made up for by the volume of tetra-ethel lead contamination from gasoline usage -- some 70-80+ years worth! (circa 1910 to circa 1980) Obviously this kind of contamination is directly related to your physical proximity to major thoroughfares -- like Baltimore, Chestnut, Walnut, Market, Springfield, Chester, Woodland, 40th, 44th, 47th, etc. T.T.F.N. William H. Magill [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
At 12:42 PM 12/18/2004, Bill Sanderson wrote: This doesn't seen to have struck a chord here. Is there an objective reason to believe that there is a problem? Soil tests are easy to come by, if you listen to Whyy's gardening progams, anyway--does anyone know if such a test includes Arsenic levels? Standard soil tests don't test for metals contamination. When I bought my house 6 years ago, I did a fairly extensive search and couldn't locate any that did such testing. The county ag extension office didn't particularly understand why I was asking the question and recommended several test sources, none of which test for metals contamination. Your friend might be in for a long search. Objective reasons to believe there is a problem? I don't know for arsenic in particular, but it's not at all unlikely that urban soil could be lead contaminated, have had significant oil spilled or deliberately poured on it, including PCB contaminated oil. Mercury is not impossible. If anyone can dig up (yes, I intended that pun) some numbers on soil contamination, I would be quite interested. I decided my particular house was less likely than many to have spill over from industrial use, so it might be safe to eat from my garden including root vegetables. No noticeable ill-effects. Cheryl Cheryl Shipman Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-898-6066 www.upenn.edu/curffor appointments call: 215-746-6488 You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
Title: Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil Arsenic in the soil was an issue where I grew up in Jersey. When the railroad companies would replace the railroad ties, they would offer them up for free to whomever would take them away. Folks would use them for lining gardening edges or for creating raised beds. But the ties were heavily treated with chemicals including arsenic to make the wood last longer. The arsenic would leach into the soil, and then into the plants. It was also a big issue because many rural residents use well water and the arsenic would leach into the water. As for our area, I dont know how it would get there or what effect it would have on the homeowner. Obviously its not good for the environment and the water system as a whole, but unless you eat the dirt or things grown in the contaminated dirt, I dont know if it is an immediate health risk. I think the only way to remove it is to remove the contaminated soil and replace it with new soil and/or clean fill. But, again, Im not a soil expert. Naomi on 12/17/04 8:35 PM, Jo Ann Fishburn at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A friend asked me to write to the list to see if anyone has any information about the seriousness of arsenic in the soil in our neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Does it need to be removed? How can it be removed? Is it dangerous? Where does it come from? Any information would be appreciated. Jo Ann You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. White Dog Cafe 3420 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 http://www.whitedog.com (215) 386-9224 x105 The Black Cat Gift Shop 3426 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 http://www.blackcatshop.com
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004, Cheryl Shipman wrote: I decided my particular house was less likely than many to have spill over from industrial use, so it might be safe to eat from my garden including root vegetables. No noticeable ill-effects. If there was any chance that it were contaminated why wouldn't you take simple steps to mitigate it? Is soil so expensive that you wouldn't just dig out the garden area, install a raised bed and fill with clean uncontaminated soil? It would probably be a good idea anyway to provide the future vegetation with a fecund environment under which it could flourish. -- Sam Nicolary You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
At 10:47 AM 12/20/2004, Samuel Nicolary wrote: On Mon, 20 Dec 2004, Cheryl Shipman wrote: I decided my particular house was less likely than many to have spill over from industrial use, so it might be safe to eat from my garden including root vegetables. No noticeable ill-effects. If there was any chance that it were contaminated why wouldn't you take simple steps to mitigate it? Is soil so expensive that you wouldn't just dig out the garden area, install a raised bed and fill with clean uncontaminated soil? In a word, yes. Having 10 inches of contaminated soil hauled away and disposed of legally is expensive. Cheryl Cheryl Shipman Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk [EMAIL PROTECTED] Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-898-6066 www.upenn.edu/curffor appointments call: 215-746-6488 You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
On Mon, 20 Dec 2004, Cheryl Shipman wrote: At 10:47 AM 12/20/2004, Samuel Nicolary wrote: On Mon, 20 Dec 2004, Cheryl Shipman wrote: I decided my particular house was less likely than many to have spill over from industrial use, so it might be safe to eat from my garden including root vegetables. No noticeable ill-effects. If there was any chance that it were contaminated why wouldn't you take simple steps to mitigate it? Is soil so expensive that you wouldn't just dig out the garden area, install a raised bed and fill with clean uncontaminated soil? In a word, yes. Having 10 inches of contaminated soil hauled away and disposed of legally is expensive. No need to dispose of it - just make use of it somewhere where you won't be growing things in it that you will be putting in your body. I just consider taking a chance like that by making assumptions to be immeasurably more expensive. -- Sam Nicolary You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
At 10:47 AM 12/20/2004, Samuel Nicolary wrote:On Mon, 20 Dec 2004, Cheryl Shipman wrote: I decided my particular house was less likely than many to have spill over from industrial use, so it might be safe to eat from my garden including root vegetables. No noticeable ill-effects.If there was any chance that it were contaminated why wouldn't you takesimple steps to mitigate it? Is soil so expensive that you wouldn't justdig out the garden area, install a raised bed and fill with cleanuncontaminated soil?In a word, yes. Having 10 inches of contaminated soil hauled away and disposed of legally is expensive.Cheryl Oh boy we can attest to just how expensive it is to have soil replaced! Half of back yard here was full of rampant running bamboo. Stuff went over 3 feet deep and was impossible. We tried diggingit up ourselves, worried about it spreading more, nothing we did really put a dent in it's growth. Finally we did have half the yard dug up, old soil removed, bamboo barrier put up and new soil put in. An awful, messy, painful (yes, we did help) and time consuming job. And very expensive! Worth it now at least. Wendy
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
Jo Ann Fishburn wrote: A friend asked me to write to the list to see if anyone has any information about the seriousness of arsenic in the soil in our neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Does it need to be removed? How can it be removed? Is it dangerous? Where does it come from? Any information would be appreciated. Well, for now, I'd avoid eating the soil. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: [UC] arsenic in the soil
This doesn't seen to have struck a chord here. Is there an objective reason to believe that there is a problem? Soil tests are easy to come by, if you listen to Whyy's gardening progams, anyway--does anyone know if such a test includes Arsenic levels? As an aside, We have an immediate neighbor whose back yard is covered with carpeting because, as she mentioned to my wife some years back, one of their tenants poisoned the back yard. I don't remember the details of the method of poisoning, but it was described. There is stuff growing around the carpeting. Is this the same person who's asking the question? - Original Message - From: Jo Ann Fishburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: UC Purple List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 8:35 PM Subject: [UC] arsenic in the soil A friend asked me to write to the list to see if anyone has any information about the seriousness of arsenic in the soil in our neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Does it need to be removed? How can it be removed? Is it dangerous? Where does it come from? Any information would be appreciated. Jo Ann You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Fw: [UC] arsenic in the soil
I've never heard of arsenic in the soil here in West Philly, but it does occur naturally in some areas. When Christy Whitman was Secretary of the Environment, fairly high concentrations of arsenic were found in well water there. She tried to hush up the protests, but eventually something was done about it, because it causes health problems if even low levels are ingested over a period of years. Marianne [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: Jo Ann Fishburn [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: UC Purple List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 8:35 PM Subject: [UC] arsenic in the soil A friend asked me to write to the list to see if anyone has any information about the seriousness of arsenic in the soil in our neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Does it need to be removed? How can it be removed? Is it dangerous? Where does it come from? Any information would be appreciated. Jo Ann You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
Re: Fw: [UC] arsenic in the soil
I thought that was saliva ... In a message dated 12/18/04 7:48:04 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: it causes health problems if even low levels are ingested over a period of years.
[UC] arsenic in the soil
A friend asked me to write to the list to see if anyone has any information about the seriousness of arsenic in the soil in our neighborhood. Has anyone dealt with this issue? Does it need to be removed? How can it be removed? Is it dangerous? Where does it come from? Any information would be appreciated. Jo Ann You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named UnivCity. To unsubscribe or for archive information, see http://www.purple.com/list.html.
