The legacy of tetraethyl lead

Epstein, Jessica L.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127944 Copy

Description

Title

The legacy of tetraethyl lead

Author(s)

Epstein, Jessica L.

Issue Date

2016-06-15

Keyword(s)

• History
• Chemistry

Abstract

Accounts of lead exposure are sprinkled throughout human history. Lead poisoning remained a rare disorder, confined mostly to mine workers, until the early 20th century when lead found its way into the consumer market in the form of lead solder on food cans, paints, pesticides, toothpaste packaging and water stored in lead-lined tanks. However, it was the introduction of tetra-Et lead, a gasoline additive that prevents common engine knocking, that dramatically introduced lead into the Earth's biosphere. Tetra-Et lead increased lead levels in every inhabitant of earth, and years after the protracted battle to ban lead from gasoline, remains a legacy that is with us today and in our bodies.

Description

Accounts of lead exposure are sprinkled throughout human history. Lead poisoning remained a rare disorder, confined mostly to mine workers, until the early 20th century when lead found its way into the consumer market in the form of lead solder on food cans, paints, pesticides, toothpaste packaging and water stored in lead-lined tanks. However, it was the introduction of tetra-Et lead, a gasoline additive that prevents common engine knocking, that dramatically introduced lead into the Earth's biosphere. Tetra-Et lead increased lead levels in every inhabitant of earth, and years after the protracted battle to ban lead from gasoline, remains a legacy that is with us today and in our bodies.

Publisher

Division of the History of Chemistry

ISSN

1053-4385

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127944

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70359/bhc2016v041p038

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Division of the History of Chemistry

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