Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

What will make people effectively poorer, not having non-stick coating on pans, or the large-scale poisoning of the natural world and our bodies?


There is no proof that PFAS is causing large scale poisoning. Industrial workers with insufficient PPE may get increased risks of health effects if they are subject to prolonged exposure to concentrated amounts. But so does exposure to fertilizer and aspartame. The research is not anywhere near saying PFAS are causing large scale poisoning.

It reminds me of the microplastics debate too. Lots of panic about it, little scientific evidence that it is causing large scale health problems.


I’m glad lawmakers, investors, businesses, and nearly everyone else are not waiting around for “proof”, since that is a nearly impossible standard. We know that these substances are everywhere, and there is evidence of it causing harm in animals and in humans

> With many health effects noted for a relatively few example compounds and hundreds of other PFAS in commerce lacking toxicity data… [1]

If we were to wait to run studies on all of those hundreds of substances, there will just be that much more pollutant in our environments and bodies that will be virtually impossible to clean up. The risk/reward tradeoff is pretty clear.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7906952/




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: