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The metabolic breakdown by living organisms of materials into simpler components. The degradation is usually performed by bacteria or microbes, referred to as decomposers. It is a fundamental process, since the more elementary components can be riutilized in the environment for other processes. Nearly all materials obtained from natural raw materials (e.g. wood, paper, natural fibers such as cotton or wool, etc.) are biodegradable, whereas many substances obtained from industrial processes are not. The biodegradation capacity of a substance is a function of time and the media where it is dispersed. For instance, some substances are biodegradable in water but not in the soil.
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