3 ms·
> Some drug side effects, like mild nausea or headache, might be considered acceptable trade-offs for therapeutic benefit. But others, like liver failure or bir
by youoy 2y ago
> Some drug side effects, like mild nausea or headache, might be considered acceptable trade-offs for therapeutic benefit. But others, like liver failure or birth defects, would be considered unacceptable at any dose. This is particularly true when it comes to environmental chemicals, where the effects may be subtler and the exposure levels more variable. Is a chemical that causes a small decrease in IQ scores toxic? What about one that slightly increases the risk of cancer over a lifetime (20+ years)?
This is an interesting question. For example we know that exposure to traffic pollution reduces fertility and life expectancy, and that seems to be acceptable. For example city centers are usually the most polluted, but can have some of the most expensive square meters to live in. Although it is true that maybe most people are not aware of that.
- carlmr 2y ago>For example city centers are usually the most polluted, but can have some of the most expensive square meters to live in. Although it is true that maybe most people are not aware of that. Or it's a known tradeoff. If you live in the city center you save a lot of time on commuting if your office is there, too. You save a lot of time going out because you can walk over to the next restaurant in 5-10 minutes. That's measurable time savings in the 1-2h per day range depending on what you compare it to. If it doesn't decrease your lifetime by a similar amount it may be a worthy tradeoff.
- dgfitz 2y agoDecreased mortality in order to walk to a food establishment quickly is a worthy tradeoff?
- daveguy 2y agoThat depends. Do you value sitting in a car or doing literally anything else more? Restaurant probably isn't the best example because it's a luxury. What about the grocery store? Work?
- dgfitz 2y agoWalking to and from the grocery store carrying a family’s worth of groceries, inhaling exhaust fumes and trying not to get hit by a car, sounds fucking miserable.
- carlmr 2y agoSitting in a car in traffic might not even be that healthy either. And it definitely costs time. But I don't want to tell you how to live.
- dgfitz 2y agoSitting at a restaurant however, no biggie.