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If you actually read the article before commenting: > The hazards of ingesting large pieces of plastic are pretty straightforward; they include choking and per

If you actually read the article before commenting: > The hazards of ingesting large pieces of plastic are pretty straightforward; they include choking and perforation of the intestinal tract. Animals that fill their guts with plastics eventually starve to death. The risks posed by microplastics are subtler, but not, Simon argues, any less serious. Plastics are made from by-products of oil and gas refining; many of the chemicals involved, such as benzene and vinyl chloride, are carcinogens. In addition to their main ingredients, plastics may contain any number of additives. Many of these—for example, polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs, which confer water resistance—are also suspected carcinogens. Many of the others have never been adequately tested. Honestly it’s not surprising that scientists are worried about the harmful effects of plastics to human health because the introduction of many substances non-native to the human body brings about some kind of long-term illness as a negative reaction. Just because you can’t detect it with your senses and within a short time frame doesn’t mean that a phenomenon is not happening. People could really do more with questioning their opinions more than just jumping straight into availing of their freedom of speech.

GuB-42 3y ago
I was actually reacting the the hyperbolic title "plastics are poisoning us". And while the article is more nuanced and rather well researched, the subtext essentially "ban plastics", and judging by most of the comments here, that's what most people took away. My argument is essentially that while it is perfectly normal and expected that researchers study the health risks associated with plastics, and that it is just as expected that we address the issues we discover, we have to make sure the solution is not worse than the problem. And since plastics are what I believe to be relatively harmless for the massive and careless use we make of them, I think it is an important consideration.
- luxuryballs 3y ago
  How could even the most extreme of plastic bans be worse? I imagine not being able to cheat death here and there as the most significant loss, other than what, less convenience? The world wasn’t significantly worse without plastic.
gene-h 3y ago
>Plastics are made from by-products of oil and gas refining; many of the chemicals involved, such as benzene and vinyl chloride, are carcinogens. This is like arguing that table salt is dangerous because one of the chemicals involved, chlorine, is a chemical warfare agent. Despite the title of the article, they don't provide much evidence of plastic actually poisoning people outside of plastic recyclers and textile workers.
- rTX5CMRXIfFG 3y ago
  Chlorine is a basic chemical element and benzene and vinyl chloride are compounds. You made a counter-argument so devoid of intellectual rigor that your examples do not even compare. Also, what are you saying that there’s no evidence? Even if it’s not in the article (which is an opinion piece, not a scientific journal), then you should have had the diligence to look up the claims before taking a stance? Plenty of objective sources cited in their Wikipedia articles alone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_chloride https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_chloride

GuB-42 3y ago

I was actually reacting the the hyperbolic title "plastics are poisoning us". And while the article is more nuanced and rather well researched, the subtext essentially "ban plastics", and judging by most of the comments here, that's what most people took away. My argument is essentially that while it is perfectly normal and expected that researchers study the health risks associated with plastics, and that it is just as expected that we address the issues we discover, we have to make sure the solution is not worse than the problem. And since plastics are what I believe to be relatively harmless for the massive and careless use we make of them, I think it is an important consideration.

luxuryballs 3y ago
How could even the most extreme of plastic bans be worse? I imagine not being able to cheat death here and there as the most significant loss, other than what, less convenience? The world wasn’t significantly worse without plastic.

gene-h 3y ago

>Plastics are made from by-products of oil and gas refining; many of the chemicals involved, such as benzene and vinyl chloride, are carcinogens. This is like arguing that table salt is dangerous because one of the chemicals involved, chlorine, is a chemical warfare agent. Despite the title of the article, they don't provide much evidence of plastic actually poisoning people outside of plastic recyclers and textile workers.

rTX5CMRXIfFG 3y ago
Chlorine is a basic chemical element and benzene and vinyl chloride are compounds. You made a counter-argument so devoid of intellectual rigor that your examples do not even compare. Also, what are you saying that there’s no evidence? Even if it’s not in the article (which is an opinion piece, not a scientific journal), then you should have had the diligence to look up the claims before taking a stance? Plenty of objective sources cited in their Wikipedia articles alone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_chloride https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinyl_chloride