Many plants like spinach leech toxins from the soil so over time the soil could heal.
I think the biggest obstacle to this sort of thing would be that it would be seen as "giving up" by the government. They have the ability to block it too because of zoning laws.
From the article:
"Not all contaminants, however, are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. For example, heavy metals ...
Phytoremediation is useful in these circumstances, because natural plants or transgenic plants are able to bioaccumulate these toxins... [heavy metals in biomass] may be further concentrated by incineration or even recycled for industrial use."
Agree with you re: government, but maybe Detroit is a special case:
"This piece also highlights the absolutely crucial advantage of Detroit. It’s possible to do things there. In Detroit, the incapacity of the government is actually an advantage in many cases." (From the New Geography article linked to above)
What would you do with the spinach though? Presumably it couldn't be eaten by man or beast. Or does it convert the toxins into less harmful substances?
Oh, but it could. My assumption is that it's a near certainty that some enterprising contractor would sell this stuff as feed, regardless of the damage to animals and humans.
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Many plants like spinach leech toxins from the soil so over time the soil could heal.
I think the biggest obstacle to this sort of thing would be that it would be seen as "giving up" by the government. They have the ability to block it too because of zoning laws.
Here is a wikipedia link about land cleanup... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation
From the article: "Not all contaminants, however, are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms. For example, heavy metals ... Phytoremediation is useful in these circumstances, because natural plants or transgenic plants are able to bioaccumulate these toxins... [heavy metals in biomass] may be further concentrated by incineration or even recycled for industrial use."
Agree with you re: government, but maybe Detroit is a special case:
"This piece also highlights the absolutely crucial advantage of Detroit. It’s possible to do things there. In Detroit, the incapacity of the government is actually an advantage in many cases." (From the New Geography article linked to above)
What would you do with the spinach though? Presumably it couldn't be eaten by man or beast. Or does it convert the toxins into less harmful substances?
Presumably it couldn't be eaten by man or beast.
Oh, but it could. My assumption is that it's a near certainty that some enterprising contractor would sell this stuff as feed, regardless of the damage to animals and humans.
Certain types of mushrooms can be used in this way as well
There's a TED Talk on that: http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_ca...