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  Cornier Containers for Public Health

  Though I agree that there could be several negative outcomes to increasing non-food agricultural production, namely, as both Corey and the author of the Bad Idea post mentioned, an increase in high-volume pesticide use due to the looser environmental regulations afforded agriculture that is not intended for human consumption,and an increase in high-volume monocultures that threaten biodiversity and increase pest-control problems.  These are both issues in contemporary agricultural practice regardless of whether or not agri-business turns to the production of bio-mass derivative plastics.  Petroleum-based plastics are created from a non-renewable, nearly exhausted resource that poses many environmental and health complications

  An issue that Corey touched upon in his post, that I want to re-emphasize is the harmful effects of petroleum-based plastics on the health.  Grist's Umbra Fisk gives a good outline of some of the negative effects of plastic in Bottle Racket. Plastic particles can be found in many bodies of water, including the oceans and have been linked to reproductive deficiencies in aquatic life.  Maybe most people do not think about those poor hermaphrodite frogs out in the local pond that have been genetically confused by the overload of estrogen-mimicing plastics in the water, but you most certainly will worry when your intersexed child is birthed into this world that refuses to accept something in between male and female (I am not necessarily implying that drinking from a nalgene (#7 plastics) will cause hermaphrodism in your children as I have no evidence of this fact.  I am just attempting to make a point. Reproductive problems in women have been linked to the substance.).  

  This is an issue worth watching.  Who else is reporting on this topic aside from the LA Times (the initial article Corey linked to)?  Has any other alternative media outlet picked up on the issue?On Turning corn into plastic posted 4 years, 4 months ago 2 Responses