In article ,
Penelope Periwinkle wrote:

You know, I did a quick google on Ironite this morning, and; after
wading through a fair bit of eco-nazi frothing, found this article:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=120

It was more balanced than any of the others.

Eco-nazi frothing? So this is the fair and balanced report?

Let's start with the report itself. There is no opponent's voice
in the article there are just the proponents, Rob Morgan, Ironite's
executive vice president and chief operating officer, Dr. Eberhardt,
Ironite's consultant, and a few commentators.

The most telling quote came from David Shields, a geologist with
a Dallas engineering firm who has worked on lead cleanup projects,
said the key question for consumers is not which forms of lead or
arsenic are the most or least toxic. The EPA does not make that
distinction when it plans residential cleanups, he noted.

Instead, Mr. Shields said, the important question is whether
consumers can make an informed choice. "I'm not telling anyone
they shouldn't use any particular product," Mr. Shields said.
"But lead is lead is lead."

Then there are the Bio-Nazis at EPA
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/lrpcd/wm/projects/135367.htm

Release of Heavy Metals from Ironite(R)

Ironite(R) is a common fertilizer made from mine tailings available at any
lawn and garden store. The presence of heavy metals in Ironite(R) has
resulted in its banning in Canada and lawsuits in the United States due
to the potential release of heavy metals, most notably arsenic and lead.
Bioavailable arsenic released from Ironite(R) is dependent on its
mineralogical form. Previous work sponsored by the producer of Ironite(R)
identified the arsenic bearing phase as arsenopyrite with the conclusion
that arsenic in that form does not pose an ecological threat. However, a
closer look with EXAFS has identified the arsenic phase within Ironite(R)
as scorodite-like. Scorodite is more soluble than arsenopyrite, in fact,
the dissolved arsenic released from scorodite can exceed the US drinking
water standard. In addition to the data collected at Argonne National
Labs in February 2005 that identified arsenate sorbed to iron oxides as
the dominant arsenic bearing phase, secondary identification techniques
are currently being used to confirm this finding such as
thermogravimetric analysis and Mossbauer spectroscopy.

Then there are the bio-Nazis over at Garden Web.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...029533485.html

Ironite, Ironate, or Green Sand

* Posted by jenny_in_se_pa USDA7 Sunset 32 (My Page) on
Fri, Jun 1, 07 at 9:12

I don't recall ever seeing Ironite (or similar iron-promoting products)
recommended for edibles outside of the ericaceous edibles like
blueberries, etc. Ie., these products have generally been targeted
towards ornamentals, and particularly acid-lovers including the
ornamental ericaceous shrubs (rhododendrons, azaleas, pieris, camellias,
gardenias, etc). Chemically, iron is less available within the generic
pH ranges that many cultivated veggies grow in and those vegetables are
adapted differently anyway, without the need for the same types and
levels of micronutrients like iron, as the ericas.

For my blueberries, I have been using Hollytone to keep the soil acidic
and get the iron in that they need for the foliage. Greensand is
supposedly a good source of potassium and iron. The conglomerate of
elements that is targeted in greensand ("glauconite") is a
naturally-occuring (from old sea beds) substance that is mined. Back in
the day (and probably still in the current), many used to or still do
use wood ashes for potassium (potash), although in that form, it can
drive the alkalinity of the soil up. Iron was (and often still is) added
by sticking iron nails around the plants! Greensand is an ingredient in
some Epsoma products that coupled with something like ammonium sulfate,
will lower the surrounding pH enough to help make the iron ions
available when aqueous. The very reactive potassium doesn't need much
(mainly water will do) to make it available.
---------

Utilizing recycled industrial waste products is good stewardship if the
efficacy and safety of such recycling process and final product can be
substantiated and that such standards are being monitored and regulated
periodically. There just seems no reason to financially support for the
use of a product or take on take such risk environmentally or personally
when we do not know that the benefits exceed the costs with some
certainty, especially when better alternatives exist.
-------

Then there is
http://www.envirolaw.org/cases/poisonbg.html

Food Crops that Absorb Contaminants Detected in Fertilizers

Toxin Vulnerable Crops Health Effects of Contaminant
Arsenic Carrots, onions, Carcinogenic
potatoes, other
root crops

Cadmium Lettuce, corn, Kidney disease, carcinogenic, birth
wheat defects, diminished fertility

Lead Fruits and grains Seizures, mental retardation,
behavioral disorders

Dioxin Zucchini, pumpkin, Carcinogenic, diminished fertility,
cucumber birth defects, immune system dysfunction

SOURCES: Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry, U.S. Public
Health Service, Environmental Protection Agency. Environment
International Agency for Research on Cancer and Environmental Health
Perspectives.

My question to you Penelope is how much lead, arsenic, and cadmium do
you have to ingest to improve your health?
--

Billy
Bush and Pelosi Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1009916.html