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What is something that sounds 100% false but is actually 100% true? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 year ago by lemonadebunny@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] bossito@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I first heard this number at a conference by a PhD expert who studies these issues. But I never went looking for the exact origin, because I didn't find it so hard to believe (given the context).

Certainly there are some specific conditions that freeze that decomposition and that might not always be present. This article mentions the lignin effect, that delays decomposition in anaerobic conditions, but no specific reference to lettuce. Can't open other articles that seem more directly related.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(03)00062-X

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So the claim is something like

Lettuces in landfills [generally decompose within a few weeks, but under some very specific and unusual circumstances in a controlled simulation of what a landfill might be like it can] take up to 25 years to [completely] decompose [due to something related to the lignin effect, although I can't find any reliable source for this].

[–] bossito@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank God you're not super nitpicky.

It's a fact published in dozens of websites included official websites of trash management services and companies.

This is not my area of expertise and I won't look up anything else, but do feel free to do it and inform all those websites about your findings

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not sure it's "nitpicky" to ask for clarification of a claim of 25 years when in reality 8 weeks is far more likely.

Is it so hard to admit that perhaps claim is misleading at best and therefore probably not "100% true" ?

[–] bossito@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can you prove the 8 weeks in landfill claim? With a proper study, I'll take nothing less after this talk.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago

Don't be daft mate. You're pushing the ridiculous 25 year claim without any support. Sadly "someone with a phd told me so" is not really adequate.

Do you honestly believe that it's true or just too pigheaded to admit that this is not really a fact?