If disposable nappies have only been around for 20 years or so?
2007-08-27 05:03:14 · 14 answers · asked by ? 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
by determining the decay rate of a sample of the specific components of any specific product under controlled, and uncontroled enviorments in sample time periods. which requires the testing by various terraneous or subterraneous conditions with a variety of humidities, dampness and oxygen levels to determine the decay rates for each condition. and the results are usualy interpeted as an average of the sample and the accelerant of the decay rate. so that you have enough time period samples to project an intrepeted epilog of decay prognosis interpolated, to predict the approximate time of complete decay of the complete sample. and in waste management you need to know what conditions are ideal for dealing with specific or general broad based waste products. and what possible dangers to the enviroment, they can produce as a side effect of decompositions. and since most products today, are not one specific compound, you need to know what decays first and last and what are the resultant byproducts of decompositions under various controled or uncontroled schemes.
2007-08-27 06:56:19 · answer #1 · answered by yehoshooa adam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make a test on a very small piece of nappy under controlled conditions. They time how long it takes to decompose and then extrapolate how long full sized one will take to decompose.
The experiment is not all that easy to run really because a very small sample does not have the same surface to volume proportions a full sized nappy has but it can be corrected to some degree arithmetically. A better correction is made by decomposing several small pieces of different sizes to try to establish a curve that will adjust for the change in the surface volume proportion.
You should not expect such a test to be all that precise.
2007-08-27 05:18:02 · answer #2 · answered by dougger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've been using cloth on my son since he was about 10 weeks old. I have saved an absolute fortune. They are easy to use, they don't "stink", I don't have to "wash them at 90", I am not "forever washing them", they don't leak, they are a little bulky but not that bad. I think they are a great idea, I'll be honest, it wasn't necessarily the environment at the forefront of my mind when I chose them, it was my pocket, and its worked out really well. Once I got the hang of them it was so simple - I have to say its so much easier since my son started solids, I can just flush the poo and the liner away and soak the nappy as usual. They're brilliant. Good luck to you! Edit - to Tim B My son has never had nappy rash, cloth is better for babies skin as its not full of chemicals, and disposables STINK to high heaven! My son smells like a bird cage when he's wearing a disposable, they are rank! Cxan never smell a thing in cloth (have to peek in the sides to check if he's been)
2016-05-19 01:47:05 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Disposable diapers have been around for almost 50 years. As far as decomposition, the materials from which they are made have been around for nearly a century. During that time, tests have been run where the rate of decomposition has been measured. If one can measure the rate that materials begin to break down, one can extrapolate the approximate time at which a material is reduced to it's basic components.
2007-08-27 05:21:15 · answer #4 · answered by Vince M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the same way that they think that they know how old the universe is.
It is called extrapolation. If it has degenerated to such an extent in 20 years, then in 200 years...
Similarly the rate at which radioactive isotopes started disintegrating since they were discovered means that they must have...
The snag is called the uncertainty factor. One can never know whether changing conditions affected the outcome.
2007-08-27 05:14:59 · answer #5 · answered by Canute 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I suppose if it is only a tenth decomposed now that is how long they calculate the whole process will take. Much better using washable ones.. No probs with a machine not like the old days of buckets etc
2007-08-27 05:11:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goog queestion- especially since the ones on my kids seem to never last more than an hour before they start to fall apart.
2007-08-27 11:52:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you observe all its components you could see that most of it are made of non biodergradable like plastics
2007-08-27 14:45:09 · answer #8 · answered by Arianne Joy S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
good point a star for you
2007-08-27 05:12:27 · answer #9 · answered by mummy of 5 girls <3 <3 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
good question, maybe il try to stick around for 200 years to find out!!!!!!
2007-08-27 05:11:28 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋