Paul addressed some of my questions about his article, Get plastic out of your diet :
What I had in mind for that article is to illustrate how all plastics are regulated, which is essentially not at all. In fact most technologies such as plastics, genetic engineering, ionizing- and nonionizing radiation, and so on are not regulated in any meaningful way.As for alternatives, there are many, but none included plastics, genetic engineering, ionizing- and nonionizing radiation, and so on.
Plastics are replacing, albeit poorly, almost all natural materials. If we do not eliminate these toxicants from our environment, we will not survive. There are no uses of plastic where the advantages far outweigh the costs.
The article does all but state this. If one reads the article, then there are two logical thoughts that should come to mind. One is that no plastics are safe or regulated properly. The other might be that we need to find less toxic plastics, but after studying this subject for more than a decade, I think the possibility of that is quite slim.
So, viable alternatives? Glass, metal, wood, hemp, and so many more natural materials.
Colin Leath <>
Comments:
Plastic alternatives?,
by colin
on 2004-12-24 01:31:45
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Here's the rest of our conversation: Paul had this to say (cut from previous comment): Please note the passage where I said that I had worked at a Berkeley nonprofit. It is the Ecology Center. The Berkeley Plastics Task Force asked me to join in order to give them the health effects of plastics. After I did so, they really didn't do anything with it and continue on the path of alternative plastics. It is an idea that is easy to consume, but in reality there is no such thing as a biodegradable plastic. There is also no truly useful plastic that does not use petroleum inputs. There is no such thing as recycling and all of it accumulates in the ocean, air, food, and our bodies. Colin to Paul Aug 7: Paul, I just wanted to note that judging from: http://ecologycenter.org/erc/fact_sheets/plastichealtheffects.html it sounds like the ecology center has come around-- they're not advocating any, well here's the quote: RecommendationsFind alternatives to plastic products whenever possible. Some specific suggestions:
(so maybe you have had a victory you didn't know about.) best wishes! Colin Paul Goettlich to cleath Aug 7: Colin, They say "Buy food in glass or metal containers I say, "If possible, avoid buying all canned and processed foods." They say "Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap." I say, "Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing any foods or liquids in plastic containers or plastic wrap." They say "Use natural fiber clothing, bedding and furniture." I say the same thing. They say "Avoid all PVC and Styrene products." I say "Avoid all plastics." That makes one thing out of four that we agree on. The differences are great. Do you get it now. Sometimes it's more important to understand what isn't said. This is one of those times. Best regards, Paul PS: The reason for avoiding all canned foods is that the metal cans are coated with plastic. No matter what the food or drink is that contacts it, the plastic gets into the food. ...and the food gets into the plastic. Not only that but the food is not nearly as nutritious as fresh food. |
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