Letters

Will we destroy the environment to save the environment?

The vast majority of the Vineyard Wind blade debris (some of which, Suffolk County authorities have warned, may wash up on our Montauk beaches) consists of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam. As reported in the peer-reviewed article published in the journal Materials, in January of this year, “PVC is considered the most environmentally damaging plastic and one of the most toxic substances for inhabitants of our planet.” Note that exposure to sunlight, wind, rain and ocean water will degrade PVC foam into “forever” microplastics that have the potential effect of contaminating the marine food chain.

According to the Vineyard Wind’s “material safety sheet,” PVC is not the only toxin contained in the blade debris. Up to 20 percent of the PVC foam contains toxic additives and resins that are released when the foam degrades. If the safety sheet is accurate, the epoxy resins that impregnate the blades contain large quantities of bisphenol A (BPA). Medical research suggests that BPA may act like a hormone in the body, potentially increasing the risk of prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. BPA has also been shown in certain circumstances to cause weight gain, influence development and alter the immune system.

Other listed materials in the blade include styrene 6, phthalates, formaldehyde 7, benzene 8, PFAS 9 and butadiene 10.

Subsequent to the Vineyard Wind blade failure, there has been another blade failure in the United Kingdom, same manufacturer.

Assuming no further installations, there are 29 blades currently remaining in the Vineyard Wind offshore development, all manufactured by the same company. Hundreds more are planned at other offshore locations, all based on the hubristic assumption that humans can intentionally change the atmosphere of the entire planet.

The reality is a quixotic crusade fueled by alarmism and money. The right answer is to adapt — and use those billions to feed, house and educate the poor.

Peter Paxton

Southampton