Perhaps I'm missing something, what are the enormous environmental consequences? Are you referring to just those from the photo? I feel like a fishing trawler does more damage every day than I see in these photos.
It's probably not Exxon Valdez, but I doubt it's a small deal.
Most other rockets have much worse stuff inside.
See https://everydayastronaut.com/rocket-pollution/ if you want to learn more about this topic.
But thanks for the link!
Starship itself uses a silicon-based ceramic for insulation. You wouldn't want to be hit in the head by one of those tiles, but it's unlikely to poison you.
Thanks!
Just stumbled upon this - it does seem that the particulate matter scattered for miles is being investigated as being a major health risk to nearby residents and endangered species.
Breathing in non-toxic particles can be bad for you due to the effects of mechanical injury. The classic example is asbestos, completely non-toxic, but the result of how your body attempts to repair damaged cells in your lungs can cause an increased chance of cancer.
This is one of the top concerns of nanotechnology. It could potentially create a lot of grit that we really don't want to breathe...
Thanks for the chat, have a nice one