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I hate it too. The one thing that does make me a bit optimistic is that firstly that for quite a few of the big issues, things are gradually getting better (lea

I hate it too. The one thing that does make me a bit optimistic is that firstly that for quite a few of the big issues, things are gradually getting better (leaded petrol having been phased out, PBDEs are on the way out, average quantities of things like phthalates and PFOA in people's blood I believe are dropping in most places). The shift away from fossil fuels could be another massive health improvement - studies on fine particulate matter in the last few years show that they might be far, far worse for our health than was thought, and phasing out especially diesel and petrol for transport, as well as coal power and switching homes from gas to electric appliances will make a huge difference. But it's also comforting to me seeing what smokers do - if they can suck down that many toxins, time after time, day after day, and it still takes decades to kill them, then as a non-smoker (in a country where smoking is very well regulated so you don't get exposed to a lot of second hand smoke either), that does give me comfort in how robust the human body is!

cinntaile 5y ago
I think a big problem is that we invent so many new chemicals each year where the long term consequences are unknown. [0] Sure when we notice that their downsides outweigh their upsides, they usually get regulated away. But by then they may already have caused a lot of damage and it could take many years before they are completely gone. [0] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-falling-woefully-behind-testing-new-chemicals-180962027/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-falling-wo...
jiggawatts 5y ago
Obstetricians and paediatricians around the world noticed an increase in average birth weight recently. It was attributed to a combination of less pollution due to COVID lockdowns reducing traffic, and reduced stress levels because more people were working from home. Where I live, the air seemed pretty clean before. During the height of the lockdowns it was something else. The air was so clear that you felt like you could just reach out and touch the city skyline across the harbour. It was unreal how big a difference less cars on the road made.
ggherbo 5y ago
wow, completely missing the point. also babies and children aren't smokers so there's no equivalency. childhood is naturally fastest growth period anything disrupting hormone balance because of these traumas can drasticaally affect the rest of the childs life. think making them a mouth breather from disrupting immune system triggering asthma or allergies. this all connected and most people don't realize how much they are hurting their kids indirectly or even directly
- dwild 5y ago
  > also babies and children aren't smokers so there's no equivalency. Well for sure, but I do remember the thick cloud of smoke that we had to go through... I'm not saying it's equivalent obviously, but still quite amazing that it didn't affect us more.
- stephen_g 5y ago
  Lots of babies and children used to be big second hand smokers, get exposed to asbestos fibres if work was being done on their homes and schools, possibly get exposed to DDT spraying in certain areas, have lead paint and lead pipes in their homes, breathe in fumes from leaded petrol with higher sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions than today's cars. The point is that a lot of things are finally heading in the right direction. For endocrine disruptors especially, more people and agencies now know and care about them in a way that they didn't even 10-15 years ago.

cinntaile 5y ago

I think a big problem is that we invent so many new chemicals each year where the long term consequences are unknown. [0] Sure when we notice that their downsides outweigh their upsides, they usually get regulated away. But by then they may already have caused a lot of damage and it could take many years before they are completely gone. [0] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-falling-woefully-behind-testing-new-chemicals-180962027/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/science-falling-wo...

jiggawatts 5y ago

Obstetricians and paediatricians around the world noticed an increase in average birth weight recently. It was attributed to a combination of less pollution due to COVID lockdowns reducing traffic, and reduced stress levels because more people were working from home. Where I live, the air seemed pretty clean before. During the height of the lockdowns it was something else. The air was so clear that you felt like you could just reach out and touch the city skyline across the harbour. It was unreal how big a difference less cars on the road made.

ggherbo 5y ago

wow, completely missing the point. also babies and children aren't smokers so there's no equivalency. childhood is naturally fastest growth period anything disrupting hormone balance because of these traumas can drasticaally affect the rest of the childs life. think making them a mouth breather from disrupting immune system triggering asthma or allergies. this all connected and most people don't realize how much they are hurting their kids indirectly or even directly

dwild 5y ago
> also babies and children aren't smokers so there's no equivalency. Well for sure, but I do remember the thick cloud of smoke that we had to go through... I'm not saying it's equivalent obviously, but still quite amazing that it didn't affect us more.
stephen_g 5y ago
Lots of babies and children used to be big second hand smokers, get exposed to asbestos fibres if work was being done on their homes and schools, possibly get exposed to DDT spraying in certain areas, have lead paint and lead pipes in their homes, breathe in fumes from leaded petrol with higher sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions than today's cars. The point is that a lot of things are finally heading in the right direction. For endocrine disruptors especially, more people and agencies now know and care about them in a way that they didn't even 10-15 years ago.