toxins in soil

[fi]

Problem, arsenic and lead residues to be removed from soil. i understand certain plants can do this eg sunflowers. but does it work and does it take more than one year? has anyone come across this problem before, and how did you deal with it?

[saddad]

It really depends on the levels... around old lead mines in the Peak District little will grow but most old gardens ahve traces from old paint, lead nails and so on... 

[Chrispy]

I did see a telly program, may have been comic relief, where a slum in Africa[?] was decontaminated by growing sunflowers, and then they stated growing organic veg and selling it.

From this, I would say it works.
They grew a crop, and then had the soil tested, and then repeated until the test said the soil was good enough, so from this I assume it takes a few years, but no idea how many.

[GrannieAnnie]

try googling  "chelating arsenic lead from soil"  and you'll get lots to read about it!

[fi]

Thanx all, think I need to research this one. Luckily it ain't my soil!   It maybe we resort to removing topsoil.

[sunloving]

But be careful if you do about the reglations regarding toxic waste , for instance it wasnt legal for us to take our animopyraloid contaminated manure to the tip. Your heavy metals might also be not allowed.
x sunloving