@MentORPHEUS not disputing any points you made as I don't care either way, except for conversation.

He had large debts to that country in the aftermath of the long Iran-Iraq war

Why Iraq fought Iran for 8y, instead of investing in arms and preparing to face US army that at some point would come around, like they always do to oil rich countries that do not follow US policies?

I will bankrupt Iraq and turn every Iraqi woman into a $10 whore.

Coz you know, If tiny Kuwait would ever say these things to Saddam's face that meant they already have had support. No brainer.

IMO: Fight stupid wars, win stupid prizes.

Why Russia is still intact today? Coz they knew, we get nukes and then we can have basic army made of muppets and WW2 tanks.

However dangerous it wouldn't be otherwise, US can export 'democracy', just because of nukes.

I was on a lookout for non glass microwaveable tupperware. I searched: 'is silicone tupper toxic / contains BPA / BPS?' million answers how much it is not toxic or else.

Answers changed with: 'toxins in silicone tupper'.

In an article published on February 16, 2023, in the journal Science of the Total Environment, Di Feng from Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China, and co-authors tested 42 food contact articles (FCA) made of silicone rubber for their cytotoxicity, endocrine activity, and chemical composition.

The scientists purchased 31 articles of kitchenware (i.e., 15 molds, 5 plates, 4 chopping boards, 4 kneading dough bags, and 3 cups) and 11 infant bottle nipples with a silicon component on the Chinese market. After performing migration experiments in 95% ethanol at 70 °C for 2 h, they subjected the samples to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight (UPLC-Q-TOF)-MS, and inductively coupled plasma-MS for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the compounds. For toxicity assessment, they used human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) to test for cytotoxicity as well as estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, and anti-androgenic activity (dual-luciferase reporter gene assay). The researchers also investigated the correlation between the chemicals present in the samples and the migrate’s toxicity.

Feng and co-authors reported that almost all of the 31 kitchenware samples were cytotoxic in their assays (96%) and 64% induced estrogenic, 19% anti-estrogenic, 42% androgenic, and 39% anti-androgenic activities, respectively. In contrast, none of the bottle nipples was toxic on the tested endpoints. Concerning chemical composition, the authors detected more compounds by GC compared to UPLC-Q-TF MS, but with both methods silicone oligomers were the predominant compounds in the migrates. A total of 26 organic compounds and 21 metals were identified and quantified in the migrates from kitchenware. They included cyclic methylsiloxanes, phthalic acid esters plasticizers, fatty acid plasticizers, and lubricants, amongst others. The comparison of the estimated daily intake (calculated based on the migration levels) with the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) thresholds, led the scientists to conclude that D5-D18, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleamide, and erucamide are of concern.

Furthermore, Feng et al. reported that “metals contributed 71% of biologic effects in all substances and combinations, although the migration of these single metals meets the specific migration limit.” Other substances that strongly correlated with cytotoxicity and endocrine activity were phthalate plasticizers, methylsiloxanes, fatty acid plasticizers, and lubricant. Given the complex chemical composition of the samples, the authors recommended combining chemical analysis and bioassays to assess the composition and overall toxicity, and eventually, the safety of the final products. This conclusion was also drawn by previous studies which used the combination to analyze a wide variety of products, based on fossil as well as natural resources (FPF reported and here).

Already in 2016, researchers from Beijing analyzed migrates of 30 silicon rubber FCAs for their chemical composition. In their non-target screening, they identified 140 compounds of which they prioritized 53 for further safety evaluation (FPF reported). A study by the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) tested 44 silicon baking molds sold in Europe. The high release of chemicals, which included several substances of very high concern (SVHCs), led BEUC to call for stricter EU rules for silicon FCAs (FPF reported). Only five Member States have their own national rules for silicone food contact materials (FCMs), but none of them address specific contaminants released. The European Commission has committed to revising the EU food contact material legislation, with preparatory work on a legislative proposal currently underway (FPF reported and here).

Not only silicones but also FCAs made of other polymers can contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). In a review article published on February 15, 2023, in the journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Khairun Tumu and co-authors from Iowa State University, Ames, USA, review two groups of EDCs in food packaging, phthalates and bisphenols including bisphenol A and bisphenol S. The focus of the review is two-fold. First, it summarizes the properties, uses, and levels of phthalates and bisphenols in FCMs, their toxicity, exposure routes, and how these compounds are regulated under different legislation. Second, it discusses analytical techniques for the detection and quantification of the two chemical groups. With their review, the authors aim to provide “an updated resource for addressing regulatory concerns and potential impact to human and environmental health by determining appropriate methods and limitations for detecting” EDCs in FCMs