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Plastics are poisoning us

newyorker.com

231–240 of 528 posts

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#231
post #32

Much of the 80's recycling movement was funded as greenwashing by the plastics industry. The lie was that plastic was a "closed cycle" and "infinitely reusable." In the late 90's/early 00's, "biodegradable plastic" was another lie. We need to ban all materials that persist with poisonous degradation products. Most bottles should then transition back to glass or to enamel-lined (not BPA) cans. Glass persists for thous…

i like to walk barefeet, so i worry about glass pollution all the time

What about sharp rocks? We need to send somebody around with a file to sand off the pointy edges

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I solved this problem in minimalist way - I wash my car maybe twice a year. It sits in my driveway in rain anyway because my garage is waiting for some spare time so that I can finally reuse all that pallets I collected since last year (mostly clean pallets I've already made some nice yard furniture for myself and family, all those pallets already have planned use but I don't have enough time).

They said "Even if you use environmentally friendly soap, or no soap, the water coming of the car isn't exactly clean." If the rain is falling on your car it will have the same issue, no?

Not really something you can reasonably address.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also a required element so I guess a question might be how many micrograms of copper are consumed per day by using a copper lined bottle. Adults should get 900 micrograms daily unless they are also consuming a lot of zinc and then one must do more math. Gastric bypass surgery is thought to be a risk factor for copper deficiency. Usage of proton pump inhibitors may also contribute to copper deficiency by reducing…

Most new construction in the last 10 years is all PVC and PEX, not copper.

My home was built in 1970. Most homes in my area were built in the 70's and 80's. When I rebuild my home I do plan to use PEX. I also want to use the ManaBloc port adapters because that was a damn cool idea whoever came up with it. Then I will just have to worry about chemicals leeching into the water such as MTBE and tert-Butyl alcohol unofficially of course but I don't drink from the well water anyway.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

https://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM

Here's what I want to know, has anyone done any studies on what happens when sugars enter the penis? Is it better or worse than drinking the beverage? OP might be well advised to avoid fucking his beverages.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#235

I became a minimist to save the planet as much as i could. Its easier than any one could think you know. Here is what i have been doing for a decade and would receommend 1. Reusing plastic bags (i love cotton bags but not ideal). Fold and keep one or two in your pocket before you leave home 2. Support and use light software so you dont need to upgrade your gadgets (12y laptop i use) 3. Prepare and eat home cooked mea…

What I have been wondering is, as an one mere person, trying my best to save the planet is really helping the earth while the industry is ruining the earth by tremendous impact? I mean, I am doing my best what I can to save the planet but sometimes I felt it is a droplet into the ocean so I want to find some logical reasons why I keep doing that.

the ocean is made of drops.

without anyone changing their behavior, a massive collapse is guaranteed

with only a portion of people changing, eventually the world all switches over

even besides all that living healthy is to avoid disease, pain, low function, feeling like crap etc

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#236
post #2

Yes? At this point, it's hopeless - plastics are expanding like never before, Shell expanding several new enormous factories right in the US. No politician is interested in stopping it either, since the lobbying industry for plastics is also going strong. The only legislation passed in modern time is against single-use plastics, which is just a tiny drop in the ocean (!!) of plastic. And also, the clothes industry is…

> In the end, it's up to consumers.

This is the exact wrong conclusion to draw. The only way we've ever solved issues like this (CFCs, lead paint, leaded gas, etc.) is on the supply side through regulation. Yes, it's challenging and there are forces resisting these efforts, but it's certainly possible and has been done before.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#237
post #64

I became a minimist to save the planet as much as i could. Its easier than any one could think you know. Here is what i have been doing for a decade and would receommend 1. Reusing plastic bags (i love cotton bags but not ideal). Fold and keep one or two in your pocket before you leave home 2. Support and use light software so you dont need to upgrade your gadgets (12y laptop i use) 3. Prepare and eat home cooked mea…

It does not seem that easy and does not seem that important to be honest. Donating 100 dollars monthly to sensible causes seems more beneficial than all combined and easier for lots of people. 3. 4. 5. 4. are barely positive if positive at all (considering environment, some are definitely healthy)

I feel the same way. One private jet flight would take 100+ years of OP’s “minimalism” lifestyle to be carbon neutral. Want to know how many private jet flights left the Super Bowl in 2023?

And that’s just one event.

Being politically active and pushing for a carbon tax would do far more than any amount of individual lifestyle choices.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://youtu.be/dBnniua6-oM

Here's what I want to know, has anyone done any studies on what happens when sugars enter the penis? Is it better or worse than drinking the beverage? OP might be well advised to avoid fucking his beverages.

[flagged]

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

300 C is typically the highest setting on a stovetop. I never go above medium when using Teflon cookware. I've not used a cooking thermometer yet, but https://homebli.com/stove-top-temperature-knobs-what-the-num... gives a good general guide line under a section labelled Stove Top Numbers to Degrees. Also, I only use 'plastic' utensils with the pan. The result, not a single scratch on the pan. The surface looks brand…

[flagged]

I would guess GP meant silicone tools, silicone being a kind of plastic.

Re: Plastics are poisoning us

#240

Much of the 80's recycling movement was funded as greenwashing by the plastics industry. The lie was that plastic was a "closed cycle" and "infinitely reusable." In the late 90's/early 00's, "biodegradable plastic" was another lie. We need to ban all materials that persist with poisonous degradation products. Most bottles should then transition back to glass or to enamel-lined (not BPA) cans. Glass persists for thous…

Its all still greenwashing. "You can save the world without even getting up from your chouch!" is the sales pitch of the day. I'm far from what you'd consider an environmentalist in the sense of the current vernacular and I have a ridiculously low carbon footprint (my electric bill 9 months out of the year is $2 a month to give you an idea) and very low rate of disposal of plastics. All it takes is a handful of lifes…

> my electric bill 9 months out of the year is $2 a month to give you an idea

How do you do that? I can't get mine under 20EUR/month. Do you never cook at home?

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