Forgetting the Asbestos: Or, how we lose knowledge and technologies.

Re:Forgetting the Asbestos: Or, how we lose knowledge and te... by cogman10 on Monday October 24, 2022 @05:20PM (#33322825)

Well, this is exactly the problem, it's completely arbitrary and based on public outrage what gets banned and what doesn't. If we can't motivate enough people to care about something, it won't be banned.

That's not a way to run health policy. I'd certainly like more action against PFAS, for example. At very least, more science done to know exactly how harmful it is (especially given how it's permeated so much of the public drinking water).

But, would I ban PFAS all together? Heck no. Rather I'd want to have a better understanding of where they should and shouldn't be used and how we should treat PFAS chemical outputs.

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Re:Forgetting the Asbestos: Or, how we lose knowledge and te... by CHB0403085482 on Monday October 24, 2022 @07:43PM (#33324175)

Yes, ban/restrict PFAS

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32980712

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Re:Forgetting the Asbestos: Or, how we lose knowledge and te... by acdha on Monday October 24, 2022 @09:22PM (#33324988)

I think you’re overestimating the degree to which these decisions are made logically based in a desire to avoid problems, and overly quick to dismiss different opinions on acceptable levels of risk as arbitrary or outrage-driven. There’s a long history of companies claiming to be doing the smart thing but cutting corners ruthlessly - for example, here’s a story I read last week contrasting how they told regulators they worked versus the actual plant conditions:

https://www.propublica.org/article/asbestos-poisoning-chemic...

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