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  • #21
TheAlphaWolf,

Yeah, free radicals produced by cellular respiration induce mitochondrial aging and damage to nuclear DNA, both of which are associated with increased incidence of cancer.  So BREATHING is bad too!  I guess that means no more visits to those supposedly benefitial oxygen bars that were once popular out on the westcoast! I guess it also means we all should stop breathing!

ALL THESE CARCINOGENS--AHHH WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!

smile_m_32.gif


I guess the bottom line is that all products have pros and cons. Tens of thousands die in car accidents every year and your odds of getting into any MVA are about 1:100 per drive. Should the automobile be banned? Same applies to electricity, water (drowning), tylenol (poisoning), most medications, etc., etc., etc.
 
  • #22
These days, almost all objects cause cancer and almost all objects CLAIM to be a cure for cancer, lol. Zongyi
 
  • #23
Use plenty of water to wet the perlite (or vermiculite) before you use it; that stops the dust problem (at least until it dries).

Giles
 
  • #24
the real question is, how high is the risk? I mean, if it's like that drug somewhere that I think doubled the risk for a heart attack in people who took them, I definately don't want to get anywhere near it, but if it's just a .2 percent increase then who cares!
I won't say if I think they're overreacting or anything unless I know how high the risk is of getting cancer because of it.
 
  • #25
One way to reduce the chance of getting cancer is to die younger. Many diseases are the result of people living longer.
 
  • #26
XDDD!!! Bob, that deserves to be quoted!!!
 
  • #27
This whole deal kinda reminds me of something I read in my science book. Everything gives off radiation, but not all of it is leathal or causes enough damage to have any effect on us. Heck, your walls are giving off radiation as we speak, so are you.
 
  • #28
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]One way to reduce the chance of getting cancer is to die younger. Many diseases are the result of people living longer.

Very true.  However, I'd refrain from suggesting that course of action to your patients should you ever decide to become a physician!

And I agree with you, AlphaWolf, it's all about risk. Or more accurately, its all about the risk-to-benefit ratio of a product or activity with respect to a particular individual, as well as how much that person is willing to gamble.  If I had a terminal disease and there was a drug that was guaranteed to cure it but also increase my risk of stroke by 25%, I would take it anyway.  However, if I had the common cold and that same drug also cured that, I would not take it.  I realize these are two extremes, but it gets the point across.  Regarding vermiculite, it may slightly increase my risk of cancer if I inhale it every day over the course of decades, but since I'll be using it very sporadically it probably won't do anything, and I'm willing to take that risk because the result will be happy plants which will give me a great deal of happiness.  There are hundreds of products and choices I'm making that are more likely to cause harm, and the same likely applies to everyone else.

Well, I'm off to inhale some vermiculite dust!!!    
smile_m_32.gif
 
  • #29
Everyone I think is correct. Its the way people are fed the info that causes some to freak out. As an example with Viagra. You had like 12 or so people wake up blind from taking it, but thats 12 out of how many thousands of people taking it. Oh maybe that wasn't a good analogy. LMAO Anyways sometimes people don't stop to think the chance of thatr accualy happening to you are so slim its not worth thinking about. Heck are most aware that sweet-n-low used to have a warning on the back of the package that said "Warning this has been known to cause cancer in laboratory animals". Although its not being taken off the market. Heck I duno if thats what caused the lab rats to get cancer or not. They are so prone to cancer anyways. And yes everything gives off radiation. When atoms are spit to transfer electrons from one atom to another it give of radiation. Anyways I';m off for some more sweet-n-low. LMAO
 
  • #30
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]When atoms are spit to transfer electrons from one atom to another it give of radiation.
= fission = atomic bomb

lol I think removing vermiculite is a bit silly, has anyone else noticed its removal or is it just a local thing for the thread parent?
 
  • #31
I put up the fuss because I, too, haven't seen any at home depot or lowes for the past 3 weeks, though this may be just a coincedence. Only time will tell.
 
  • #32
Never used it, won't miss it.

Never inhale ANY dust. Sheesh.
 
  • #34
I also don't use it for CPs, but a few of my non-carnivorous tropicals like a little in their mix. I don't use much, but I'd rather have some readily available than not.
 
  • #35
I honestly was using a lot of vermiculite for some time. The best substrate for african violet leaf cuttings i've used so far is 1:1 perlite:vermiculite, and heck, vermiculite made up at least 25% of my mexican ping mix.
 
  • #36
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]When atoms are spit to transfer electrons from one atom to another it give of radiation. Anyways I';m off for some more sweet-n-low.  LMAO
well, it's not that simple. it depends on the type of radiation. There's alpha radiation, beta, gamma, and others. Each releases a different particle(s).
for example in the atomic bomb (or nuclear power plants... not to be confused with the hydrogen bomb wich uses fusion instead of fission) uranium-235 is hit with a neutron and splits, which releases two more neutrons that can go split other nuclei etc...
 
  • #37
I avoid vermiculite anyway - too many minerals for most CPs.

Fern spores also cause cancer, but I haven't seen anybody suffering from walking through the woods.
 
  • #38
Darn it, it seems like they're proving just about EVERYTHING to cause cancer. Hell, I probably cause cancer.
 
  • #39
You can get cancer and high heavy-metal levels in your body from fish, especially tuna, shark, and other large fish. I think many of the chemicals used in growing our food are carcinogens. One of the most potent carcinogens comes from a fungus that grows on peanuts. So what's safe now?
 
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