Final answer:
Chemical wastes, while made of the same atoms as the environment, can have harmful effects when concentrated and accumulated. Concerns about contaminating the environment with these wastes are valid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "It's paranoid to worry about contaminating the environment with chemical wastes; this stuff is just made of the same atoms that were already present in our environment" can be critically evaluated from a biological perspective.
While it is true that chemical wastes are made up of the same atoms that exist in the environment, the concern lies in the concentration and accumulation of these chemicals.
Human activities have introduced thousands of new chemicals into the environment that have not been naturally present before. These chemicals can have harmful effects on living organisms and ecosystems.
For example, many industrial pollutants and pesticides have been found in wildlife populations and even in remote regions like the Antarctic. These chemicals can accumulate in the food chain and cause negative impacts on the health and survival of species.
Therefore, it is not paranoid to be concerned about contaminating the environment with chemical wastes, as their presence and accumulation can have serious consequences.