> Obviously as a society we should avoid releasing heavy metals into the environment, regulators should be vigilant about egregious levels of contamination in p

> Obviously as a society we should avoid releasing heavy metals into the environment, regulators should be vigilant about egregious levels of contamination in products (e.g. lead paint on toys), but as consumers I really don't think there's much point in worrying about it. The catch here is that we know, as in we absolutely know that a non trivial number of manufacturers will definitely without question knowingly and happily release heavy metals and other dangerous substances into the environment and their products if it they get no pushback. The pushback comes directly from consumers actively worrying about it. I definitely agree (if your implication is) that we should not have to worry. I can think of an almost unlimited number of ways our energy could be better spent. But the sad reality is a non trivial number of companies will not do it in their own. We’ve seen this time and time again. Companies as a whole do not self regulate. I think most people here used to hope and argue industries would, but we know with certainty they don’t.