L is for lead

Lead is a heavy metal that’s denser than most common materials.  Lead starts out as bluish-white, but tarnishes to a dull gray when exposed to air.  The abundance of lead and its low cost made it ideal for building materials. 

It’s been used in construction, batteries, bullets, solder, plumbing and white paint to name a few.  It’s easily extracted and highly melt-able.

Lead bullets - pic courtesy of Wikipedia

The toxicity of lead was recognized in the early 19^th century and many of its uses have been phased out.  Lead is a neurotoxin that accumulates in bones and soft tissue.  It damages the nervous system and causes blood disorders. 

Lead is generally found combined with Sulphur and rarely occurs in its native metallic form.

Lead chunks - pic courtesy of Wikipedia

During the Roman Empire lead was used for making water pipes.  It’s application included pharmaceuticals, roofing, currency and warfare.  In the 13^th century lead was being used for stained glass.  Lead was also used in drinking vessels that resulted in mass lead poisonings in the late 18^th century.

Lead was one of the principles used in the printing press, invented around 1440.  The lead dust commonly inhaled by workers caused lead poisoning.  Lead was also used to make bullets for firearms and in the white paint worn by geishas and Western European aristocracy who believed a white face was regarded as a sign of modesty and feminine virtue.  This white face paint led to the invention of powdered wigs and eye liner that phased out with the French Revolution in the late 18^th century.

Lead - pic courtesy of Wikipedia

By the mid 1980’s the United States had moved to phase out lead in non-battery products such as gasoline, paint, solder and water systems.  Old houses can still contain lead paint and it also is still found in tubing and insulation of electrical cords.  One must be careful when stripping old paint by sanding as it’s dusty and workers can easily inhale this dust.  Poisoning generally results from ingestion of food or water contaminated with lead.  It can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption.  Cigarette smoke contains, along with other toxic substances, radioactive lead.