Rocket science

This is the same story as before: seeds growing in water and different concentrations of Ecover washing-up liquid. And the results are similar to those with mung beans and wheat: little adverse effect, indeed even some beneficial effect up to a concentration of 0.001 (i.e. 0.1%), but increasing growth inhibition thereafter.

A bit more bioscience in Camberwell 2

Again the effect of varying strengths of Ecover washing-up liquid, but this time on wheat. The result is much the same as it was with mung beans (see 8 August). Rocket next time.

A bit more bioscience in Camberwell

The plants on the right are clearly doing better than the ones on the left. That is because as you go to the left the plants are growing in increasingly strong solutions of Ecover washing-up liquid. But, interestingly, the weaker solutions, and I think .001 is typical for our washing up, seem pretty harmless, possibly even beneficial. So we can safely put the water on the garden.

These are mung beans. I'll try next with wheat and with rocket, and then do the same with washing-up liquids that are not advertised as being environmentally friendly.

Detergents

Great for the dishes and the clothes and the hair, then down the drain and away, out of mind, but in fact into the great Victorian sewers and in due course into the sewage treatment plant. As an amateur surfer (no pun intended) I have found it hard to find good technical information on the effect of washing-up liquids and other cleaners on sewage treatment, but it does seem that Ecover, while just as toxic as other products to organisms such as water fleas or green algae that are not at all accustomed to it, is much better tolerated by the kind of bacteria whose business in life is munching their way through sewage. So two cheers for Ecover.

Here in Camberwell, Basic on Denmark Hill refills Ecover washing-up liquid, laundry liquid and multi-surface cleaner bottles. This is cheaper than buying new bottles and of course saves all that plastic being chucked.