5 ms·

This was a strange read. "Just as toxic" reads, obviously, as "as bad as", with the implication that paper is as bad as plastic. But the article ignores paper

This was a strange read. "Just as toxic" reads, obviously, as "as bad as", with the implication that paper is as bad as plastic. But the article ignores paper entirely and focuses on the use of PLA liners in (some) paper cups and lids. So, already there is obviously far less potentially toxic material and so already the title is untrue. Then the article states that there are "as many chemicals" in PLA as regular plastics. Ok? But what those chemicals are obviously matters? They say that mosquito larvae were negatively affected by both paper and plastic cups, but not to what degrees. This, at least as presented, is trash.

stuaxo 3y ago
Strange I had to scroll this far down to read what seems obvious on face if it.
asimpletune 3y ago
Taken literally, you're right, but in effect their point remains that paper (food containers) nonetheless can be toxic. I think the main point is this is a serious issue but there's still time to phase this stuff out of our lives without it causing a massive inconvenience. They mentioned at the bottom of the article there's an effort in the UN to organize an agreement to ban plastics, and the authors called for transparency requirements from the plastics industry.
- theelous3 3y ago
  That wasn't really their point. Their point was that paper containers are toxic, but it's a lie by omission to call them just paper containers. If they had just written a good faith article pointing out that paper containers typically also contain PLA and this is known to be toxic in the environment, all would be well. "PLA lined paper containers are toxic in the environment" would be a fair title. This might seem pedantic but we have to draw a line between good faith activism and intentionally misleading activism.
  - arp242 3y ago
    Cups that are 100% paper don't exist, because you can't hold the liquids people drink in paper. Everyone calls "paper cups lined with some material" just "paper cups".
    - drewcoo 3y ago
      As I kid I remember folding paper cups for water. They didn't last long, but they worked.
NoZebra120vClip 3y ago
Whether there is a microscopic lining, or the plastic is an inch thick, the amount that leaches off, especially in the presence of a hot food substance, that's the amount that's harmful, and any leaching is going to be in small, frequent doses over a large period of time, and that's the harm they'll find.
- theelous3 3y ago
  That isn't at all what they are studying, so while you may be correct, the point is irrelevant. The article is specifically about degredation in wet soil.
- notTooFarGone 3y ago
  What's harmful in that? Where are the studies that show that it is harmful? I write this comment on plastic, got to work in a mostly plastic car, drink my coffee out of plastic packaging, have my lunch in plastic containers. I'm sure there should be long term health effects already discovered based on the ubiquity of plastics of all sorts.
stuaxo 3y ago
Strange I had to scroll this far down to read what seems obvious on the face of it.

stuaxo 3y ago

Strange I had to scroll this far down to read what seems obvious on face if it.

asimpletune 3y ago

Taken literally, you're right, but in effect their point remains that paper (food containers) nonetheless can be toxic. I think the main point is this is a serious issue but there's still time to phase this stuff out of our lives without it causing a massive inconvenience. They mentioned at the bottom of the article there's an effort in the UN to organize an agreement to ban plastics, and the authors called for transparency requirements from the plastics industry.

theelous3 3y ago
That wasn't really their point. Their point was that paper containers are toxic, but it's a lie by omission to call them just paper containers. If they had just written a good faith article pointing out that paper containers typically also contain PLA and this is known to be toxic in the environment, all would be well. "PLA lined paper containers are toxic in the environment" would be a fair title. This might seem pedantic but we have to draw a line between good faith activism and intentionally misleading activism.
- arp242 3y ago
  Cups that are 100% paper don't exist, because you can't hold the liquids people drink in paper. Everyone calls "paper cups lined with some material" just "paper cups".
  - drewcoo 3y ago
    As I kid I remember folding paper cups for water. They didn't last long, but they worked.

NoZebra120vClip 3y ago

Whether there is a microscopic lining, or the plastic is an inch thick, the amount that leaches off, especially in the presence of a hot food substance, that's the amount that's harmful, and any leaching is going to be in small, frequent doses over a large period of time, and that's the harm they'll find.

theelous3 3y ago
That isn't at all what they are studying, so while you may be correct, the point is irrelevant. The article is specifically about degredation in wet soil.
notTooFarGone 3y ago
What's harmful in that? Where are the studies that show that it is harmful? I write this comment on plastic, got to work in a mostly plastic car, drink my coffee out of plastic packaging, have my lunch in plastic containers. I'm sure there should be long term health effects already discovered based on the ubiquity of plastics of all sorts.

stuaxo 3y ago

Strange I had to scroll this far down to read what seems obvious on the face of it.