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Post by Granny Smith on Oct 20, 2010 7:20:31 GMT -5
Sea shells clean up toxic waterby David Masters April 28, 2009 Scientists working in Vietnam have discovered a method of removing toxic metals from water using sea shells. Heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc, lead, and iron dissolved in water can be removed by pouring the water over a bed of crushed clam or mussel shells, found researchers from Austra’s Graz University of Technology. The shells, made from a form of calcium carbonate, readily swap their calcium atoms in exchange for heavy metal atoms. Heavy metals are locked into the shells in solid form, whilst the calcium released is absorbed by the water. The technique could prove a vital life-saving resource to many people in the majority world who currently lack access to clean drinking water. www.fairhome.co.uk/2009/04/28...p-toxic-water/Most feed stores sell 50 lb bags of crushed oyster shells.
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Post by meemo on Oct 20, 2010 7:54:29 GMT -5
Would it work to line a bucket with cotton fabric,pack it full of shells and pour the water thru it. Poke holes in the bottom of the bucket. Small holes. I think I'll add a couple of bags to my store. I've been wondering if we needed to buy one of those ceramic water filters.
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Post by Granny Smith on Oct 20, 2010 8:37:57 GMT -5
I think it would work. I tried to find the first article I read on this subject, several years ago, but couldn't. It was about a couple of teenagers who wanted to find a simple water purification method for a science fair project, so they dumped some oyster shells in a kitchen sink full of dirty dishwater, then went to bed. The next morning, the water was clean (but I'll bet Mom was mad)
After I read that, I bought a couple of bags of crushed oyster shell from the feed store and put them up, just in case. I figure on putting some in a bucket and filling it with water. Then, after letting it set, filtering it through a fine cloth to remove any sediment left from the shells. The shells can be reused.
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Post by Granny Smith on Oct 20, 2010 9:24:25 GMT -5
I posted this on Frugal Squirrels and one of the members found the original article! Students invent natural way to purify polluted waterLast Updated: Friday, November 15, 2002 | 9:47 PM ET CBC News Scallop shells can be used to clean up polluted water, three teenagers in Halifax have discovered. James Beaton-Johnson, Elias Fares and Amy Trottier began their award-winning research as Grade 12 students. They say the shells can be used to clean up contaminated rivers, lakes and even Halifax Harbour. The trio got the idea from a documentary about a Japanese fish farmer who tossed oyster shells into a pond and found it cleared the dirty water. The students at J.L. Ilsley high school began experimenting with scallop shells immersed in dirty dish water. The water cleared in 24 hours. The students then used their inexpensive, user-friendly method to improve the water quality on the MacIntosh Run, a river flowing through their school property. They discovered the shells' shape and chemical makeup neutralizes pH and also helps filter out coliform bacteria, sediment and heavy metals. Researchers at the National Research Council's Institute for Marine Biosciences say they don't know of anyone else doing similar research. The project has already won prizes at three science fairs. Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly was so impressed with the students' research that he offered them summer jobs testing their method on the municipal water system. Their method successfully cleaned the water. Next week, they'll present their project at the World Youth Parliament for Water in Quebec City. The conference brings together 100 teens from 30 countries to reflect on water management. The students have applied to patent their water-cleaning method, and they are writing up their findings for a scientific journal. All three plan to study science at university. Read more: www.cbc.ca/news/story/2002/11/15/water_scallops021115.html#ixzz12uQ5Bq00
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Post by Valerie on Oct 20, 2010 11:49:46 GMT -5
If a person was using this method for drinking water, I wonder how they would know when the calcium ions in the shells are depleted to the point where they are no longer purifying. If they are swapping their Ca's for the heavy metals, at some point they will run out. Wonder how long it takes?
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Oct 20, 2010 12:05:58 GMT -5
Wonder if taking Dolomite would help remove heavy metals from a person's body?
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Post by Granny Smith on Oct 20, 2010 12:16:12 GMT -5
Valerie, I wondered the same thing, but couldn't find an answer.
Kim, I've read of people using dolomite to detox from drug use and to remove urea from the blood, so you might be on to something.
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Post by Valerie on Oct 20, 2010 12:43:27 GMT -5
I would be scared to ingest dolomite. Isn't it a form of lime? My daddy used to work with this lime slurry that if a person fell into it, it would eat the flesh from their bones and dissolve their skeleton in minutes. It was some stinkin' scary stuff. Lots of guys he worked with wound up with lymphoma from breathing that stuff. Maybe dolomite is different though.
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Post by Cyngbaeld on Oct 20, 2010 16:35:02 GMT -5
Dolomite is ground limestone that has a high proportion of magnesium in it. I feed it to the goats to provide minerals and prevent mastitis. It also clears up warts. I've taken it some for leg cramps, just don't bother to take it all the time.
Lime for concrete is different. It is very chemically active, dolomite isn't so active.
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Post by Valerie on Oct 20, 2010 18:23:09 GMT -5
Oh ok. That's good!
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Post by susan on May 26, 2013 22:09:33 GMT -5
Kim, I don't know about dolomite, but magnesium is one of the things I use to detox. It also helps with leg cramps.
Susan
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Post by Cyngbaeld on May 27, 2013 7:10:14 GMT -5
Susan it does help with cramps. Usually my cramps are a sign of too high phosphorus levels. The calcium and magnesium remove excess phosphorus.
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Post by Valerie on May 27, 2013 15:33:02 GMT -5
Becky found a thing on Herbs & Oils World the other day, for a detox bath. It had 1/4 Cup each of baking soda, epsom salt, and sea salt, and some ACV, but I don't remember how much. It said it detoxes and also helps with magnesium deficiency. She tried it and (soaked 30 min) and it helped her sleep like a baby for a change and her legs didn't itch at all. Oh yeah, they didn't say in the article, though, that when you add the quart of boiling water to the dry ingredients in a container, that it will make a volcano all over your kitchen if you put too much water too fast.
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Post by Granny Smith on May 27, 2013 18:12:36 GMT -5
Be careful with that recipe, Valerie. I used to bathe in a baking soda bath and it raised my blood pressure. Once I quit using the soda, it went back to normal. I tried it again a couple of years later, thinking it was probably just a coincidence, but had the same results.
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Post by Valerie on May 27, 2013 18:47:05 GMT -5
OK, I'll let Becky know. Thanks!
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