(Dulles, VA, 17 May 2005) -- Edenspace Systems Corporation announced today the continuation and expansion of its test project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to remove soil arsenic from residential properties in Spring Valley, Washington, D.C. The study uses Edenspace's edenfern™ phytoremediation plants to extract and concentrate soil arsenic in fern fronds, which may then be harvested for safe disposal. A media opportunity to obtain information about the project and interview experts will be conducted by the Corps from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2005, at the "Lot 15" demonstration site located outdoors at the northwest corner of 45th Street and Van Ness.

In 2004, approximately 2,800 edenfern™ plants were installed in fourteen test plots at three different sites in the Northwest Washington suburb. The ferns showed excellent growth and arsenic uptake, removing an average of approximately 9 parts per million (ppm) of soil arsenic across all sites from starting concentrations that ranged from 16 to 127 ppm. Remediation activities were completed with no apparent harm to specimen trees and shrubs, and with little interference to homeowner activities on the properties. Importantly, many of the edenfern™ plants overwintered and are showing new growth this spring, a key to reducing costs of arsenic phytoremediation in northern latitudes. Based on these results, in 2005 the project scope will be increased significantly, with approximately 10,000 ferns to be planted on up to 35 plots at 14 residential sites

The techniques under evaluation in this ongoing demonstration include the planting, cultivation, treatment and harvesting of special ferns that accumulate large quantities of arsenic in their fronds. The edenfern™ demonstrates bioconcentration coefficients (ratios of arsenic in the plants to arsenic in the soil or water) greater than 100, promising much lower costs for removing and disposing of this dangerous element -- for example, at some sites potentially as little as 10% of the cost of excavating and removing contaminated soil. The technique also may be useful at sites where excavation may be difficult, such as near valuable landscaping plants or above buried pipes and cables.

The arsenic-extracting capabilities of the edenfern™ were discovered by Dr. Lena Ma of the University of Florida. Edenspace has signed an exclusive license agreement with the University, which has received two patents based on the discovery, to enable cost-effective commercial cleanup of arsenic from soil and water using the fern.

Arsenic causes cancer, mutations and birth defects and also has been associated with the development of diabetes. The element was once widely used in insecticides in farming, gardening and ranching, and is used as a component of wood preservatives in lumber and furniture. In some parts of the world, arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater. Decades after arsenic is introduced into the environment, soil concentrations can be hundreds of times higher than the residential standard in some states. Because of its toxicity to humans, farm animals and household pets, the stability of its compounds in soil and groundwater, its once widespread use, and the lack of cost-effective remediation techniques, arsenic today constitutes a significant environmental health hazard.

Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, Edenspace Systems Corporation is a commercial leader in the use of live plants to improve human health, protect property values and clean the environment. Its techniques employ plants to detect, concentrate and remove lead, arsenic, radionuclides, chlorides (salts), hydrocarbons, and other minerals in water and soil, as well as to produce plants with traits that improve yields of renewable energy sources such as ethanol. With expertise in plant science, soil science, genetics and agronomy, Edenspace is developing new markets for the restoration and enrichment of our surroundings.