Peter,
Regardless of the chemistry, trivial for the volumes we are talking
about if you live in a mid-sized municipality. It is simply a matter of
dilution. Your results may vary if you have a septic-field and process
allot of film.
Dave
Peter Badcock wrote:
On 9/10/05, *Stefan Kahlert* <s.kahlert@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:s.kahlert@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
That's true for unused or desilvered fixer. Loaded with silver it
becomes rather toxic for most of the environment.
This topic got me reading again about the toxicity of silver-rich fixer, especially in regards to claims that it acts as a bactericide and will kill off the 'good processing bacteria' at the sewerage treatment plant.
Then I came across this post here http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00BSoD which talks about ionic silver being the culprit. But if the ionic silver in the fixer has had a chance to form insoluble precipitates on its way to the sewerage treatment plant, then would it not be in a rather unreactive form and consequently not dangerous?
Now I'm definitely not advocating pouring fixer down the drain, I just wonder how much of a problem the silver would actually be.
Disclaimer: I'm not a chemist.... regards
Peter
