Scientists have uncovered a largely overlooked form of air pollution hiding in plain sight. A new study finds that methylsiloxanes, silicone-based compounds used in everything from cosmetics to industrial lubricants, are far more widespread in the atmosphere than previously recognized.
More research is needed. It is foolish to automatically assume that a pollutant is harmful until it is proven harmful. We will never be able to maintain a tolerable way of life and remove all possible pollutants.
foolish to automatically assume that a pollutant is harmful until it is proven
No offense but please tell me you do not have any regulatory responsiblity.
It is foolish. This is fear mongering. Take it seriously but with a grain of salt.
Per Wikipedia, emphasis mine:
toxicology has been intensively examined. "The inertness of silicones toward warmblooded animals has been demonstrated in a number of tests." With an LD50 in rats of >50 g/kg, they are virtually nontoxic. Questions remain however about chronic toxicity or the consequences of bioaccumulation since siloxanes can be long-lived.
In other words, they are literally telling us that more tests are needed.
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