Why Aqueous Cleaners are 'Buggy'

摘要

How often does an MSDS refer to an aqueous cleaning agent as biodegradable? How often does a user read (or hear) this statement and imagine their spent cleaning agent can be discarded in any convenient waterway-believing some "bugs" will take care of it? The answer to both questions is the same-all too often. Biodegradable has become, in the minds of many, a single word meaning, "I don't have those solvent disposal problems," An outcome of believing that answer is usually a problem that has technical, sanitary, environmental, or legal ramifications. This column covers how to understand and avoid those problems.