So, let's get this straight - just because something is biodegradable, it doesn't mean it's powered by unicorn farts or rainbow magic (although that would be pretty cool!). It's more like a mysterious dark horse with a rainbow of benefits, way better than just being plain old toxic like arsenic. Basically, every chemical out there has its own ID card with a CAS# (Chemical Abstracts Service), a UN (United Nations IMDG CODE), and a fancy product name data sheet. It's like a jungle out there trying to figure out what percentages are safe to use. At Simple Sailor Marine, our main focus is on 'Acute Aquatic Toxicity,' which is a fancy way of saying we have to juggle between product performance, eco-friendliness, and most importantly, not harming our fishy friends in the deep blue green sea. It's a tough job, but hey, someone's gotta do it!
Just because something is biodegradable, like a fancy biodegradable car wash, boat wash or sunscreen, doesn't mean it's all rainbows and unicorns in terms of toxicity. There are tests galore to check a product's biodegradability, most of which involve poking and prodding to see how well it dissolves in wastewater treatment facilities. In fact in the US there are currently only two tests. One is the EPA's Direct Release program and the second is the USDA
To be called 'readily biodegradable', the product needs to turn back into nature's hug from 60-80% in just 28 days. 'Inherently biodegradable' means it's a bit slower, breaking down anywhere from 20% to 60% in the same time frame. So, when a product boasts about being 'biodegradable', it's a good start to show they care about the environment. But hey, safety first! Remember, you can't judge a product's safety by its ability to do the disappearing act.
WATER, SAFE RIGHT, CAN BE HARMFUL WHEN CONSUMED EXCESSIVELY, A SURPRISING CHEMISTRY TWIST
Think of it like this. Drinking water is safe to... drink. Right? You are correct on the implied product H20 (1 Hydrogen and 2 Oxygen atoms) but then ther is its CAS#:7732-18-5:
Water. CAS Common Chemistry. CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, n.d. https://commonchemistry.cas.org/detail?cas_rn=7732-18-5 (retrieved 2024-07-14) (CAS RN: 7732-18-5).
Acute toxicity LD50 Oral - Rat - > 90,000 mg/kg Remarks: (RTECS) Inhalation: No data available Dermal: No data available
= About 0.9 litres
Now we all know it's super important to stay hydrated, but overdoing it with water can actually be dangerous and even fatal if you're not careful. The right amount of water varies based on things like your age, weight, how well your kidneys work, and your overall health. As a rough guide, the CDC suggests sticking to around 48 ounces of water per hour, but some experts say it's best not to go over 0.8 to 1.0 liters per hour. So, drink up, but don't go overboard!
CRAFTING ENCHANTING MIXTURES THAT MAKE OBJECTS VANISH INTO THE BLUE!
This is the art of following profit margins over integrity and honesty. Rarely are formulas actually created in a lab as we have in our minds eye, it is more often an office or warehouse with jungle juice blends being mixed, tested and tweaked with messy writing formulating how to scale this up. In products such as CERAMICS or AEROSOL STAIN LIFTERS like k2r however, it is a highly controlled lab environment that ensures the dangerous cocktails are handled safely and designed for controlled end user use.
Once a chemical manufacturer is happy with their formula, they have a number of options:
Create a formula safety data sheet based on the raw ingredients individual properties.
Create a SDS based on the formulas overall % in use as directed output properties
Lab testing (never real world) to evaluate the runoff levels as diluted.
Lab testing with live sea life (think phytoplankton and Algaes) to determine exo-toxicity.
Lab testing to determine degradation rates based on sterile man made factors.
MISSING DATA VS SIMPLE BEGINNING TO END DATA
As you can see in each case there is a lack of data due to the inherent difficulty of quantifying over mixing or incorrect use, varying ocean/coastal/ waterway environments. A lab test might look like the picture below but how do you possibly quantify the millions of varying factors going on in a marina or when a vessel is near coastal or millions of tiny sea life local to a specific area... you just can't unless you mitigate the toxicity or application beginning to end. It's pretty simple but lacks flashy logos or paid ENVIRONMENTAL ENDORSEMENTS because, well, frankly it doesn't need them and they are not a legal requirement as pointed out in our blog post 'BIODEGRADABLE GREENWASHING OF BOAT CLEANERS https://www.simplesailormarine.com/post/biodegradable-greenwashing.
At Simple Sailor Marine we chose the sensible, simple way. Maximum % before toxicity and then work back from there. That is to do the following:
Determine our end use as DEK2SEA™ or DEKT2AIR™.
Formulate our ingredients list from our approved safer chemicals (usually about 90% more expensive than commonly used marine cleaning chemicals.
Evaluate the maximum Weight/Weight measure % in mix that is considered in databases to be NON TOXIC to sea life or degradable with proof papers in <28 days at the same time as having little or no impact on local or distant marine eco systems.
By clearly stating if something is DEK2SEA™ or DEK2AIR™ we negate the 'aquatic toxicity' issue. This does not mean it is total UNICORN FARTS but it blows our mind that such transparency is actually our customers most positive feedback. We even had one customer tell us:
"I am done with the confusion, I now have a clear understanding to choose products without getting caught up in the 'are they really MARPOL approved' dilemma. It's similar to the childhood myth about chewing gum staying in your stomach for 7 years, only to find out it's more like 40 hours. Your products are genuine, not just empty marketing talk."
SIMPLE SAILOR SUMMARY
Talk is cheap, marketing labels and endorsements are fraught with flawed backend testing for money. BIODegradable means <28 days 60-80% in the full environment. Ocean Degradable means minimal toxicity in use as directed and direct to water (DEK2SEA™) degradable 100% <28 days.
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