wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group

VALUES AND FUCTIONS OF MIRES AND PEATLANDS57Numerous environmental uses have beenidentified for peat materials (and byproducts)58 which are currently beingscientifically validated. These include the useof peat as a microbial carrier, the use ofyounger Sphagnum peat as an oil spillabsorbent, and, finally, the removal of heavymetals from trade effluents.These pollution treatment qualities of peathave been successfully commercialised by anumber of peat extraction companies.(ag) Peat textiles 59Under the long-term influence of humus andhumin substances, the basal sheaths ofcottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) in peatundergo a change into brown, 5-20 cm longfibres, which are soft enough to be used fortextiles. These fibres are warmer than woolbecause of their cavity-like, air-filledstructure, which makes them also very light.Peat textiles are thus especially suitable forthose who need extra warmth, such as infants,the elderly and rheumatism sufferers. Thefibres easily absorb and release liquids andhave the ability to absorb the secretions ofthe skin including perspiration and salts, inaddition to absorbing smells. They do notacquire an electric charge and burn poorly,like wool.Early experiments in the 1890s to producetextiles from these fibres failed because theproducts were too expensive. During the FirstWorld War interest in peat textiles wasrekindled for a short while, especially inGermany, where they were used for horseblankets, soldiers’ clothing and evenbandages in hospitals because of theantiseptic and therapeutic properties of peat.After the war this interest ceased.Since the late l960s peat textiles have beenproduced in southern Sweden, carded on a50/50 basis of cottongrass fibres with wooland used for bedclothes or spun into yarnfor knitwear or fabrics. Since 1992 someproduction has also taken place in Finlandwhere small firms produce felt clothes suchas hats, coats and loose soles as well asknitwear and woven textiles out ofcottongrass fibres and wool. Fibres arebought from Finnish peat mills where theyare screened out of the peat as beingunsuitable for horticultural use.Peat has also been used to produce paper. Itis thought that the experiments in using peatfor paper accelerated the discovery of itspotential for peat fibre and as an insulatingmaterial 60 .(ah) Peat as building and insulationmaterial 61Peat was used in many countries as a buildingmaterial. In Ireland, the Netherlands andGermany, the very poor also built their homesfrom sods of turf 62 . Peat has been used inGermany as an insulation material in woodencottages: in this usage peat is packed in largesheet-form bags and placed along the wall ofthe building. Sod peat was (and still is) usedin constructing the banks of Irish canals. Insome parts of Finland sod peat is used as afoundation material on the roads in place ofgravel. In Norway compressed peat baleshave been used as foundation for rail tracksin areas prone to soil movement from frost 63 .In Russia and Belarus peat has been widelyused as an insulation material in the form ofdry pressed sheets, for example in industrialrefrigerators, or as peat boards in poultrystables 64 . It is understood that sod peat hasbeen used as insulation material for missilesilos in the former Soviet Union.(ai) Peat in balneology, therapy, medicineand body care 65In many countries there is a long tradition ofusing mud for human and veterinarytherapeutic purposes. By chance peat wassubstituted for mud, and from 1802 (first in