[Dioxin-l] Open List?

[Alan Muller]

......

>  I have 
>conceeded that organo-halogens can be found in nature, but the hitch is to 
>what degree of presence compared to the plethora of anthropogenic 
>organo-halogens (both quantity and variety) now found in nature that were not 
>there one hundred years ago.
>.....

>The hepta-chlor that tainted my wife's breast milk was not a product of 
>nature.
>...

>Since I feel (perhaps irrationally) that the level and diversity of 
>organo-halogens in our environment is growing and showing little sign of 
>doing otherwise, I am formally announcing that I have been, and remain a 
>"CHLORO PHOBE".
>
>I challenge the great number of people on the list to participate in this 
>important discussion and to reveal what they dare about themselves.

(Muller has a BA in the social sciences and didn't learn much getting it.  Otherwise, self-educated, or uneducated, as the observer may decide for herself.)

I do think that enviro types are too dogmatic sometimes, leading sometimes to an inflexibility that doesn't advance the cause.

Recall that some years ago when Greenpeace began agitating for a phaseout of chlorine chemistry, this seemed a bit extreme to many in the mainstream of activism.  Now, the wisdom of this isn't disputed too much by those not in the industry.

I personally would be very surprised if one couldn't find some "naturally" organo-halogens, but this doesn't mean that those we are making and dispersing are good for us.  There's lot's of stuff around (like oxygen) that would kill us deader than doornails if our systems weren't adapted to coping with it.

Regards,

am