Phytoremediation EPA Field Research

Phytoremediation and prior EPA Field demonstrated projects to remediate heavy metals proves Bioremediation is a viable and cost saving option for Radianuclides removal.
The EPA has previously listed about 194 ongoing Phytoremediation / bioremediation field research projects. Yr 2000

194 ongoing phytoremediation field research projects, EPA 

Heavy metals and radionuclides represent about 30% of this activity supporting that bioremediation is a feasible technology to decontaminate the environment. 

Unlike many organic contaminants most:

•  metals and radionuclides cannot be eliminated from the environment by chemical or biological transformation. 
• Although it may be possible to reduce the toxicity of certain metals by influencing their speciation, 
• they do not degrade and are persistent in the environment. 

The conventional remediation technologies that are used to clean heavy metal polluted environments are:

• soil in situ vitrification
• soil incineration
• excavation and landfill
• soil washing
• soil flushing
• solidification
• stabilization with electrokinetic systems 

Source: Electronic Journal of Biotechnology

Citizen Science Phytoremediation Research StLouis

Citizen Science Research  Phytoremediation Project

Toxins and Contaminants are removed the Natural Way by using Plants in a process called Phytoremediation.

Article 3 Plants as Water Protectors blog series

Article 5- Phytromediation Rafts with Electrokinetics

Article 4- Plants as Water Protectors

Article 3- Citizen Science Phytoremediation Research StLouis

Article 2- St Louis IKEA Phyto Buffer Zone pt2

Article 1- IKEAs lesser known environmental project

Project Location: Lemay Ferry Road 63125 Google Map Location.  Plants used in the phytoremediation system, stop the contaminants from the Automobiles and Buildings along Lemay Ferry Road before they enter River Despair at the bottom of the hill. River Despair flows into the Mississippi River a few miles down stream.

Phytoremediation Citizen Science Map Lemay Ferry Rd River Despair StLouis MO

Natural Contamination Toxin Removal by Phytoremediation

Scotty Citizen Science Phytoremediation Research Tweet

This is not the only phytoremediation buffer zone in StLouis. I have previously shared the IKEA buffer zone: IKEAs lesser known environmental project and St Louis IKEA Phyto Buffer Zone pt2 

A phytoremediation buffer zone is just what is needed at the Westlake Landfill.

Alex Cohen St Louis Public Radio Interview: When Scientist Lie, People Die

I mentioned this situation in the ElectroHemp proposal I submitted to MoDNR and EPA Region 7 while attending the Bidgeton Landfill Community Meeting where I took this popular Google Local Guide photo .

Just recently the Missouri Department of Natural Resources released a document that showed the nuclear contamination traveled from the landfill in the rain storms of 2016.

The Nuclear Waste Contaminants are spreading into the community: 

"Stormwater from just outside the fence line of the West Lake Landfill complex, the dumping ground for Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste, contains a variety of radioactive isotopes, according to test results released late last month by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

The sampling of stormwater overflow, conducted on April 30 as heavy rains pounded the region, found levels of alpha particle activity that exceed the threshold allowed for drinking water. Uranium, radium and gross beta readings all registered within acceptable limits for drinking water, which the department used as a comparative baseline because of its stringent standards. StLouis Post Dispatch "

Dawn Chapman shared the MODNR latest fings as well:

Dawn Chapman added a photo in West Lake Landfill.

Dawn Chapman June 30 at 4:44pm **Important** Radioactive Alpha particles found by the State of MO DNR in Storm Water from this past Spring above safe levels (MCL's) Storm Water runoff was tested on April 30, 2017 for radioactive particles by the State of MO and the results released confirm that they were found. Levels of gross Alpha particles were above MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level). Now, ONLY after the results came back above MCL, they are going to test for Thorium isotopes. While we are glad the State of MO stepped in to test, it is upsetting that Thorium is still being ignored. For those who are new to this situation, this waste has sat on the surface of the landfill for almost 44 years....so you can only imagine what 43+ years of storm water runoff looks like and where it has all gone. To add insult to injury....EPA CONTINUES to say no rad. waste has left this site! The State of MO's test results do NOT support this conclusion! "Results for gross alpha exceeded MCLs, and could not be fully attributed to Radium and Uranium results, therefore analysis for isotopic Thorium was ordered. Those results will be posted when available. All data has been shared with EPA." https://dnr.mo.gov/bridgeton/docs/20170430StormWaterResults.pdf **Important** Radioactive Alpha particles found by the State of MO DNR in Storm Water from this past...

Why is this a big deal you may ask? 

The Cancer Clusters of StLouis is the reason.

St Louis Cancer Cluster Map wording copied from USARMY / ACE - FUSRAP documents

If you would like to learn more about the ongoing catasphrope in StLouis that is killing my neighbors a new film just debuted recently and has won and award or two!: Atomic Home Front

Atomic Home Front Facebook Page

St Louis IKEA Phyto Buffer Zone pt2

The magic happens before the toxins and pollutants go into the St Louis storm water system.

Link  

Article 2 Plants as Water Protectors blog series

Article 5- Phytromediation Rafts with Electrokinetics
Article 4- Plants as Water Protectors
Article 3- Citizen Science Phytoremediation Research StLouis
Article 2- St Louis IKEA Phyto Buffer Zone pt2
Article 1- IKEAs lesser known environmental project

Plants and the Plant Roots phyto-extract the toxins that washes into the riparian buffer zone from the parking lot of the IKEA store in St Louis.

Elevated drainage point in buffer zone gives the phytoremediation plants root systems the time needed to absorb the toxins.

(part 1 citizen science) I didn't actually get down into the plants to inspect at close range for fear of being reported to the police and hauled to jail for trespassing.  I was close enough to guestimate the exit or outlet point height above the gravel bed root zone at around 12 -16 inches.

St Louis IKEA Riparian Buffer Zone Video 1

St Louis IKEA Riparian Buffer Zone video 2

I have been focusing on how the plant roots clean the water.  There are additional benefits on incorporating green spaces into a property design: Control Soil Erosion, Slow the amount of water entering the city sewer drains eliminating "overcrowding or Peak Loads", Reduce backups into Residential and Commercial properties, Improve aesthetics, Inexpensive (my 2nd favorite-phytoremediation is 1st).

Figure 1: Effects of Urbanization on the Hydrologic Cycle

The following CAD diagram provides a cross section of the unseen areas where the plant roots phytoextract the waterborne pollutants.

Riparian Buffer Zone (Download CAD File)

The Philadelphia Water (PWD) Stormwater Management Guidance Manual (the Manual, or SMGM) is a comprehensive resource for the development community in complying with the PWD Stormwater Regulations (Stormwater Regulations). The Stormwater Regulations require on-site stormwater management for development projects above a certain size, helping to improve the health and vitality of Philadelphia’s waterways along with the City’s own sizable clean water investments. Other types of construction activities may also trigger portions of the Stormwater Regulations, including demolition and voluntary stormwater retrofit projects. http://www.pwdplanreview.org/manual/introduction

The following land uses are considered to have a potential for contaminated soil, which may adversely affect the quality of groundwater discharging to surface water. These uses may qualify a project site, or portions of a project site, as a hotspot.

• Sites designated as Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act sites, also known as Superfund Sites,
• Auto recycler facilities and junk yards,
• Commercial laundry and dry cleaning facilities,
• Commercial nurseries,
• Vehicle fueling stations, service and maintenance areas,
• Toxic chemical manufacturing and storage facilities,
• Petroleum storage and refining facilities,
• Public works storage areas,
• Airports and deicing facilities,
• Railroads and rail yards,
• Marinas and ports,
• Heavy manufacturing and power generation facilities,
• Landfills and hazardous waste material disposal facilities, and
• Sites located on subsurface material such as fly ash known to contain mobile heavy metals and toxins.

Suggestion on Designing a Riparian Phytoremediation Buffer Zone for the St Louis Region: 

• Rainfall Distribution 50 years of rainfall data for St. Louis, indicates that 90 percent of all rainfall events are 1.14 inches or smaller. 
• Communities with large geographic areas may find it beneficial to obtain data from different areas in a community to account for variability in rainfall patterns. 
• Rainfall data sets and distributions can be derived from weather service organizations such as the United States Geological Survey (http://mo.water.usgs.gov/) Cumulative Rainfall Distribution for St. Louis, MO, 

Next post: How would a Phytoremediation Buffer Zone help Westlake Landfill.

IKEAs lesser known environmental project

If only more business cared about the environment as much as IKEA does.

Most everyone has heard that the St Louis IKEA Store is powered by solar panels!  Here is a lesser known environmental project they have incorporated into the property along Forest Park and Vandeventer Streets.

The parking lot in of the St Louis IKEA store drains into a low $$$ cost natural phytoremediation filter system.

Article 1 Plants as Water Protectors blog series

Article 5- Phytromediation Rafts with Electrokinetics

Article 4- Plants as Water Protectors

Article 3- Citizen Science Phytoremediation Research StLouis

Article 2- St Louis IKEA Phyto Buffer Zone pt2

Article 1- IKEAs lesser known environmental project

The IKEA's Engineers and Crew that installed the water filtration Phytoremediation project did a seamless job of blending the bioremediation system into the natural environment.  If it wouldn't have been for my growing the Kenaf plants and seeing the unmistakable Kenaf Flowers- I may not have noticed. 

IKEA Store Flags and Kenaf Flowering Plants used modified Riparian Buffer StLouis 

IKEA Parking Lot drains away from the building into modified riparian buffers along Forest Park Parkway and Vandeventer

Any contaminants that escape or drip from the Autos in the parking lot will eventually make their way into the modified riparian buffer zone that removes the toxins naturally

The break in the concrete curb allows the water to enter the riparian buffer zone where the Plants naturally cycle the toxins from the water.

Phytoremediation Plants are growing in a bed of Gravel and Rock allowing the roots of the plants direct contact with the toxins that will be removed by Phytoremediation.

 In ElectroHemps IKEAs next sustainable bioremediation post (publication date 9/1/16) I will explain with photos, diagrams, and CAD drawings how the water toxins are removed before entering the public water system.

Toxins and Contaminants are removed the Natural Way by using Plants in a process called Phytoremediation. 

https://electrohemp.blogspot.com/2017/07/citizen-science-phytoremediation.html

Healthy Environments Require Citizen Scientists

The recent email from the USDA.blog is a perfect example of how everybody can and is making a difference in creating a healthy environment by actively partaking in Citizen Science activities.

A couple of interesting points were made and really jumped out and encouraged me to share this message to everyone who is being negatively affected by the environmental warnings that happen in Nature.  

Simple fact: if it negatively affects the natural environment- it also negatively affects you and your health.

- "Organizations rely on so-called best available science for management decisions....the best Scientific Information does not necessarily come from peer-reviewed scientific publications"

The full article that appeared in the 

Citizen Science is Sound Science Provided by You

Posted by Stephanie Dromerick, Ecosystem Management Coordination Intern, U.S. Forest Service, on August 19, 2016