From Contamination to Beautification: Ferns Remove Arsenic From
Soil Arsenic is a chemical element that has the symbol As.
Arsenic is widely distributed in nature and is associated with
the ores of metals such as gold, lead, and copper. Arsenic also
enters the environment through human activities, as arsenic is
often used in pesticides, dyes, and chemical weapons. The
arsenic compound chromated copper arsenate (CCA) has also been
used as a wood preservative. At high doses, arsenic is a poison
to humans and other animals which can cause death, and at lower
doses over a longer time, it can also cause cancer. Arsenic
contamination of soil and water is thus an environmental health
issue. In 2001, University of Florida researcher Lena Ma
discovered that the Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata) grows
well in arsenic-contaminated soil. This plant accumulates large
amounts of arsenic in its fronds, the portion of the fern that
is above ground. This discovery led to the idea that brake fern
could help clean up arsenic-