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Old October 4, 2018   #50
MsCowpea
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10
Posts: 369
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Not to mention the Tones have higher arsenic & heavy metals than many water soluble non-organics, some over 20x as much, regardless of how minute the amounts are.
I really consider this a misrepresentation of the data. Particularly when you imply the amounts, though minute, should still be concerning and then show the scary face.
The arsenic level in Plantex 10-52-10 : 1 part per million (agr.wa.gov)
The arsenic level In Espoma Garden Tone: 3 parts per million (agr.wa.gov)
Cadium is considered more of a concern than arsenic in fertilizers according to agr.wa.gov:
(
https://agr.wa.gov/pestfert/Publications/docs/2002MetalsUptakeStudy.pdf)

The cadium level in Plantex 10-52-10: .63 ppm
The cadium level in Espoma Garden tone: <1.000
The “<” symbol indicates that the metal was not found at or above the minimum detection limit. So cadium level is higher in Plantex.
Cobalt, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, and lead are also not detected above the minimum detection in GardenTone but these metals are found in Plantex!!! (just trying to show how information can be misleading and misinterpreted--the scary face
doesn't belong at all as there are not significant levels of metals in either Plantex or GardenTone!
So it is perfectly safe to use either.
You could look up many many fertilizers ( particularly those with micronutrients or rock based phosphorus or recycled waste) and see varying PARTS PER MILLION levels of heavy metals but they are still considered safe to use. Rate of application and plant uptake also plays a role. Government regulation though not popular at least monitors some of these fertilizer concerns. (at least it does in the state of Washington)
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Last edited by MsCowpea; October 4, 2018 at 05:12 PM.
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