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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
 Posted - 05/16/2006 : 11:29:38 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky
I quickly realized after my last post that beskeptigal was joking. But being in Boston, I didn't have computer access to delete my post and hide any trail of it.
I wasn't joking. But this post clarifies you were addressing my post.
Here's my philosophy on this.
How hard is it to use the softer spatula on the butter container? It is no different than using a knife. Maybe an extra utensil to wash, but that's all.
Does the hard butter knife actually remove any plastic from the side of the butter container? Yes, with the amount depending on how vigorous you scrape. Try it an see how easily plastic is scraped from the side.
Do we know if consuming the plastic is safe? I doubt if it has been investigated. And, sometimes the butter is heated in cooking, sometimes not so the temperature affects on the plastic would also need to be looked at as well. I assume some basic testing on the safety of using this plastic for food containers was presented to the FDA, but I'm not sure how extensive that testing would have been.
The FDA allows that styrofoam and look what heat does to it. Was microwaving styrofoam with food in it tested? There are many varieties of styrofoam containers. Are some OK and others not? Are any labeled with heat limits?
What is the quantity of the plastic consumed in this manner, (knife scraping sides of the container)? It could be considerable if one uses butter, (actually this whole thing is about margarine, I should clarify that), often daily, over one's lifetime.
Conclusion: Hazard unknown.
Avoiding the unknown risk: Almost no additional action needed to avoid it.
If the cell phones emit radiation (I believe they do but I don't know the extent and whether it penetrates skin and bone), and we know radiation is a hazard, I don't see the fallacy in taking measures to avoid the hazard. However, I'd need proof the barriers were indeed effective and not a scam.
The next decision then becomes, is it a great enough hazard to warrant the cost and inconvenience of using the barrier? If the barriers were free and not inconvenient, I'd use one. Beyond that, the evidence of harm with the amount of phone time I use doesn't warrant a barrier. For those folks with the phone in their ear day and night, especially teens and young adults with the potential for greater lifetime exposures, I'd certainly want to read a bit more of the evidence.
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