As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of 'forever chemicals,” many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute.

  • TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Stainless steel, even with its anti-corrosion properties, will eventually break down over thousands of years from the effects of weathering. So it’s technically biodegradable, but not really on our timescale, I guess.

    Edit: Steel is not biodegradable, because it can’t be broken down by biological processes. I was confused on the word.

    • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Biodegradable does not mean susceptible to weathering. It means susceptible to bacterial decomposition.

      • TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Oh, okay and thanks for the correction. It makes sense now that i actually look at the word. I just always assumed it meant things that can be decomposed by the environment.