Although aqueous solutions of cyanide degrade rapidly in sunlight, the less-toxic products, such as cyanates and thiocyanates, may persist for some years.

Organophosphate pesticides degrade rapidly by hydrolysis on exposure to sunlight, air, and soil, although small amounts can be detected in food and drinking water.

It must be stored carefully or all the good stuff degrades rapidly.

If the canister had remained sealed, the nerve agent, which degrades rapidly when exposed to moisture, would have retained its potency.

Even though the protocol performs well in static and low-mobility environments, the performance degrades rapidly with increasing mobility.