depends on the chain lube you use, I'd imagine.
cheers
Exactly. The Hydrocarbons aren't really the main issue here. The bigger problem is PFC's - perfluorocarbons. These occur in chain lube as PTFE. This washes off and gets into the environment.
The hydrocarbons from washing your chain etc... for the most part won't go into the environment as hydrocarbons. The action of the soap or degreaser is to act as a solvent, which should break down the hydrocarbons. My chemistry isn't so great, no doubt someone who knows more can comment on the products of the saponification, and their environmental impact.
We then have to get onto the subject of quantities. With 13000km under my belt, I've yet to fully use the 120ml bottle of lube I started with. Meaning that the total amount I've put into the environment, even if all of it was washed down the drain without going through any other process, would be less than a 3rd of a pint. There is also the issue of what the origin of the lube is, technically olive oil is a hydrocarbon, but it's of natural origin. Is the lube mineral oil based, or is it plant/animal based*?
It's not a clear cut argument one way or the other, and seeing as what goes down the drain, in any civilised country will get multiple levels of processing to remove all of the bits that aren't just water, I don't think it's something to worry about.
The environmental implications of having a wet wipe incinerated (the local waste disposal method of choice), is much more of a concern...
J
* For the purpose of this statement I'm ignoring the fact that mineral oils are derived from plants/animals that existed millions of years ago, you know what I'm trying to say, stop being pedantic :p