But setting aside real ambiguities about the comparable environmental impacts of different diapers, the debate was a contest over different value hierarchies. Champions of reusables may prefer to minimize trash. Champions of disposables may value more highly the time saved by using disposables or the lower incidence of diaper rash. From this simple example, it is clear that shoehorning everyone into a single choice would diminish the quality of life for all. The importance of having choices applies to environmental health risks as well.
Some people are more risk averse than others.
Some are highly averse to certain potential risks but accepting of others. Science can help us understand the complex interrelationships among natural resources, chemical elements, human action and ecology. But science cannot decide what individuals value.