While the break down of these products may be unknown, I believe the production of cotton involves a lot of really nasty herbicides and pesticides, although I do not recall which ones!
Malcolm On Thu, October 25, 2007 9:50 pm, Elaine Joyal wrote: > Malcolm, > > As far as I know plastics, including polyester (and too many other > products), are petroleum derivatives. Rayon (and acetate and such) is > made > from wood pulp that has been chemically treated and is then extruded > through > pores to create a fiber. Other than the feel of rayon that it's not made > from petroleum is another reason why many people prefer it. What I don't > know and would love to hear is if someone has done an environmental impact > analysis of the relative trade-offs of using products that come from > petroleum and don't break down readily in the environment etc. versus > something like rayon (or even cotton for that matter) that comes from a > renewable resource but is then chemically treated etc. Come to think of > it, > I have no idea how rayon breaks down. Anyone? > > > Elaine > > > On 10/25/07, Malcolm McCallum <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Isn't just about every piece of plastic, man made fiber (rayon, >> polyester), etc. created from petroleum? >> >> It seems like I read that somewhere, but I don't want to quote it as >> fact >> because I cannot now find the info. >> >> >> >> On Thu, October 25, 2007 12:12 am, Zachary Wilson wrote: >> > Aren't "overpopulation" and human contributions to climate change both >> > related to peak oil? Peak oil is the end of cheap, easy-to-get oil >> (i.e. >> the >> > oil that gives us fuel and fertilizer to feed 7 billion) and declining >> > production. Overpopulation and our contribution to climate change are >> the >> > result of cheap, easy-to-get oil. Doesn't that mean peak oil is the >> > beginning of the end of overpopulation and human-induced climate >> change? >> > Is that an oversimplification? >> > >> > - zac wilson >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------ >> >> >> >> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:32:18 -0600 >> >> From: Randy Bangert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> >> Subject: Re: Denial * 2: Climate Change and Economic >> >> >> >> I would add the topics of overpopulation and 'end of oil' as being of >> >> vital importance. I am perplexed as to why we do not engage the topic >> >> of overpopulation as that is the fundamental cause of the problems >> >> under discussion. People on this list have argued that we can >> >> continue population increase. As Joe indicated, is overpopulation >> >> also not trendy, is it too taboo, or are we all too steeped in >> >> denial? Why do we continue to discuss the bandaids rather than the >> >> root cause? >> >> >> >> randy >> >> ======================================= >> >> RK Bangert, PhD >> >> P.O. Box 335 >> >> Mancos, CO 81328 >> >> >> >> Malcolm L. McCallum >> Assistant Professor of Biology >> Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology >> http://www.herpconbio.org >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > > > > -- > Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor of Biology Editor Herpetological Conservation and Biology http://www.herpconbio.org [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
