Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Does a rusty boat going out to sea cause water pollution

hello,
I would like to ask if rust causes water pollution. For an example, going out to sea in a rusty boat. I look forward to your reply soon. I am grade 6 this year. Thank you.

Tan Ray Y.
student - Singapore
2007

Hi, Tan. Rust is iron oxide, and iron oxide is naturally occurring, and it's everywhere. The earth is largely composed of it. So I think the answer is that a rusty boat does not cause water pollution BUT . . .

The more the boat rusts, the sooner it will have to be replaced; and the manufacturing processes and transportation involved in replacing it will consume great amounts of energy and materials and will cause pollution.

Spending a little energy, and perhaps generating a small amount of waste, on good plating, painting, and metal finishing practices to prevent the rust will save a great deal of energy and pollution in the long run. Good luck with your report.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

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Iron is an essential nutrient -- necessary for chlorophyll in plants and hemoglobin in peoples' blood.

Parts of the oceans are considered deficient in iron. Fertilization with iron stimulates plankton growth which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ideally, 1 kg of iron removes 83,000 kg of carbon dioxide (less if the plankton are gobbled up by krill, fish, etc.).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_fertilization

There have been 10 trial studies according to the Wikipedia article. We will probably hear more about this in the future; perhaps, to offset carbon dioxide from coal burned to generate electricity.

Ken Vlach [deceased]
- Goleta, California
Finishing.com honored Ken for his countless carefully researched responses. He passed away May 14, 2015.
Rest in peace, Ken. Thank you for your hard work which the finishing world, and we at finishing.com, continue to benefit from.
2007

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Don't believe everything you read on wikipedia :-)

Sheldon Taylor
supply chain electronics
Wake Forest, North Carolina
2007

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2007

Mr. Taylor,
I agree with you. We must prefer knowledge over myth. Then, let's not believe everything we read anywhere! Question is to what extent? Skepticism? Agnosticism?
On the other hand, in my previous and limited experience, Wikipedia, though not perfect, has never disappointed me matching and sometimes surpassing other reputed encyclopedias :-)

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico

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I enjoy Wikipedia myself and use it often, but it's just not the same as a real encyclopedia because the review process is less rigorous. Look up a technical subject that you know inside out, perhaps something about metal finishing, and the issue will be more obvious.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007

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2007

I have to differ with you about the accuracy of Wikipedia. While it's true that there is some inaccurate information on Wiki, independent studies have shown it to be far more complete and accurate than any other encyclopedia. If you think about it, the reason is obvious. I am not, but could be, an expert reviewer for a hard copy encyclopedia. My own personal knowledge would then be "the word" until the next edition. On Wikipedia, every entry is subject to instant review by every person on earth.

Perhaps you don't believe what I say, so try an experiment. Look up, say, the biography of an obscure person or obscure subject in a hard copy encyclopedia, then on Wikipedia. You'll likely find no entry, or a minimal one in the hard book, and a multi-reviewed and corrected entry in Wiki.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina

This forum functions similarly to Wikipedia, albeit with a far smaller audience and pool of "contributing editors". Of the 40,000 letters here I think there are maybe a couple hundred that truly do represent the best knowledge on a topic on the planet because some of the best people in metal finishing shared their experience, heard others out, and come to a consensus. And it includes stuff you won't find in any book, too.

But there are letters that Guillermo and Jeffrey haven't weighed in on, or where our other regular contributors haven't weighed in. And we admit that not all of the world's metal finishing experts regularly patronize this site either. So the quality of the coverage of topics is "uneven"; I think Wikipedia experiences the same for the same reasons although the fishbowl is way bigger.

Either way, though, Wiki is the future and enjoy it now while it's not yet smothered in ads. May it stay that way!

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2007