Detailing product toxicity testing

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White95Max

New member
I've gotten the OK from my boss here at the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Toxicology Lab to run toxicity tests on minnows and Daphnia, testing the toxicity of various detailing chemicals. I've wondered for a while how harmful the various APCs and car soaps might be when they enter the river or lake where the storm sewers lead the runoff. I plan to test:



Meg's Detailer APC

PB's APC

Optimum car soap

Optimum No-Rinse

QEW

TOL Bubble Bath

PB's SSS

P21s Wheel Cleaner

Mothers Tire/Rubber Cleaner

303 Aerospace Cleaner
 
Anyway you might be able to test Meg's Wheel Brightener and Simple Green (test for "Biodegradeability"). I'm very interested in your test - keep us updated.
 
The list that I made is of products that I have in my possession. I forgot to include Meg's Deep Crystal soap. I'll be testing that one as well. If anyone wants to send me a small sample of anything, I'd be glad to test it. 1-2 oz would be plenty I think.

I'm focusing on products that are often rinsed directly into the storm sewer. Things like waxes or glass cleaners are very rarely going to be washed away, unless a cleaner is sprayed carelessly and the chemical gets on the ground.
 
I'm not sure yet exactly. My boss has run these tests lots of times and he's going to demonstrate how to do it. I have the book of SOPs here too that I'll look over before beginning.
 
I'm not looking to gain any points from any product companies. I'm curious as to how harmful the chemicals may be, and if the companies don't like my results, so be it. I will post my findings here because there may be other members that are interested in this topic as well, but do not have the resources to perform such testing.
 
White95Max said:
I've gotten the OK from my boss here at the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Toxicology Lab to run toxicity tests on minnows and Daphnia, testing the toxicity of various detailing chemicals. I've wondered for a while how harmful the various APCs and car soaps might be when they enter the river or lake where the storm sewers lead the runoff. I plan to test:



Meg's Detailer APC

PB's APC

Optimum car soap

Optimum No-Rinse

QEW

TOL Bubble Bath

PB's SSS

P21s Wheel Cleaner

Mothers Tire/Rubber Cleaner

303 Aerospace Cleaner
Click to expand...



How about NXT or GC wash and some OTC wheel cleaners like EO or Meg's. I am more interested in the test methods. How would you simulate toxicity level once it reaches wildlife from a storm drain. How about the guys who empty their egine oil in a storm drain. Man that makes me mad.



Steve
 
SHICKS said:
How about NXT or GC wash and some OTC wheel cleaners like EO or Meg's. I am more interested in the test methods. How would you simulate toxicity level once it reaches wildlife from a storm drain. How about the guys who empty their egine oil in a storm drain. Man that makes me mad.



Steve
Click to expand...



Is your test going to take into account recommended dilution ratios and the amount of product that might actually enter the waste stream? A product at full strenght will obviously be more harmful than a product that's diluted down and even less toxic when it's enterned the waste stream. It will be interesting to see the results though. Good luck.
 
Great post can't wait for the results.









I hope they all come out with positive results (for us that is) so the EPA can lay off a bit (or alot [or all together]). Sorry I must have dosed off I'm awake now never mind. :laugh:
 
Very cool idea. I've always been concerned about runoff, but mostly my runoff is soapy water. If I could, I'd wash the cars on the lawn or a position where the runoff catches in the grass.



Regarding used motor oil - a very small amount can wreak havoc on streams and ecosystems for a very long time.
 
SHICKS said:
How about NXT or GC wash and some OTC wheel cleaners like EO or Meg's. I am more interested in the test methods. How would you simulate toxicity level once it reaches wildlife from a storm drain. How about the guys who empty their egine oil in a storm drain. Man that makes me mad.



Steve
Click to expand...





I'm not planning to buy more products specifically for this test. I have 2 gallons of TOL Bubble Bath, so I do not want to go out and buy GC or NXT soap. Anyone is free to send me a couple ounces of a product if they would like me to test it. I've got two samples on the way here so far.

I haven't done toxicity testing before, but my boss has been running the lab for many years, and has done lots of toxicity tests. I will post the procedure along with the results. We will not be able to similute the dilution once it enters a water body. The product gets so diluted that it may not be harmful. Where it enters the water body though, there will be a higher concentration of the chemical(s), so aquatic life may be affected. Think of the Dead Zone in Louisiana where the Mississippi River enters the Gulf. Eventually the pollutants and nutrients get diluted or broken down, but around the delta, the aquatic life is sparse to none.

I also get upset when I see or hear about oil being poured down a storm drain. Is it that hard to drop it off at the nearest Autozone? Nothing like kayaking down the river and watching fish, only to have the view ruined by an oil slick. :mad:
 
animes2k said:
Very cool idea. I've always been concerned about runoff, but mostly my runoff is soapy water. If I could, I'd wash the cars on the lawn or a position where the runoff catches in the grass.



Regarding used motor oil - a very small amount can wreak havoc on streams and ecosystems for a very long time.
Click to expand...



Washing the car on the lawn may be better, but only if the chemicals are able to be trapped and broken down in the soil. All liquids will eventually get down to the groundwater, so you hope it's clean by the time it reaches that level. Especially if you have a well downstream from this point (yes, groundwater flows). The test will also indicate whether it might be of concern to groundwater quality. How'd you like a tall glass of water with some residual EO A2Z?
 
Whitemus Maximus 95erus- Capn' Jack Stabbards' crew and I thank ye fer doin these here landlubber tests. Avast ye!





Sinerely,

Limped Leg Polly Johnson, Aboard the Santa Claire
 
Yes, I haven't forgotten. The lab has been full of other experiments, and my boss just got back from out of town last week. I asked him to show me how to run the experiment with one sample, and I'd do the rest myself. He said it would take maybe 2 hours to show me the first one, and he could do that this week.
 
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