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I think that the most interesting by far is > Thomas Midgley, Jr. (1889–1944) was an American engineer and chemist who contracted polio at age 51, leaving him
by messe 6y ago
I think that the most interesting by far is
> Thomas Midgley, Jr. (1889–1944) was an American engineer and chemist who contracted polio at age 51, leaving him severely disabled. He devised an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys to help others lift him from bed. He became accidentally entangled in the ropes and died of strangulation at the age of 55. However, he is better known for two of his other inventions: the tetraethyl lead (TEL) additive to gasoline, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).[24][25][26]
And from his own Wikipedia page:
> Midgley's legacy has been scarred by the negative environmental impact of leaded gasoline and Freon.[20] Environmental historian J. R. McNeill opined that Midgley "had more impact on the atmosphere than any other single organism in Earth's history",[21] and Bill Bryson remarked that Midgley possessed "an instinct for the regrettable that was almost uncanny".[22] Use of leaded gasoline, which he invented, released large quantities of lead into the atmosphere all over the world.[20] High atmospheric lead levels have been linked with serious long-term health problems from childhood, including neurological impairment,[23][24][25] and with increased levels of violence and criminality in cities.[26][27][28] Time magazine included both leaded gasoline and CFCs on its list of "The 50 Worst Inventions".[29]
- meowface 6y agoEven worse, he definitely knew first- and second-hand how poisonous lead was, so this isn't just blind ignorance. It was also known since Roman BCE times and reported on by Roman authors, so even without the personal experience, he and others should've had some awareness. >In 1923, Midgley took a long vacation in Miami, Florida, to cure himself of lead poisoning. He found "that my lungs have been affected and that it is necessary to drop all work and get a large supply of fresh air". >Kettering was elected as president, and Midgley was vice president. However, after two deaths and several cases of lead poisoning at the TEL prototype plant in Dayton, Ohio, the staff at Dayton was said in 1924 to be "depressed to the point of considering giving up the whole tetraethyl lead program". Over the course of the next year, eight more people died at DuPont's plant in Deepwater, New Jersey. >Ethyl Corporation built a new chemical plant using a high-temperature ethyl chloride process at the Bayway Refinery in New Jersey. However, within the first two months of its operation, the new plant was plagued by more cases of lead poisoning, hallucinations, insanity, and five deaths. >On October 30, 1924, Midgley participated in a press conference to demonstrate the apparent safety of TEL, in which he poured TEL over his hands, placed a bottle of the chemical under his nose, and inhaled its vapor for 60 seconds, declaring that he could do this every day without succumbing to any problems. However, the State of New Jersey ordered the Bayway plant to be closed a few days later, and Jersey Standard was forbidden to manufacture TEL again without state permission. Midgley would later have to take leave of absence from work after being diagnosed with lead poisoning. At the very least, it should have been more carefully investigated if lead was harmful not just during manufacturing but also for regular consumer use.
- superbcarrot 6y agoMidgley was the only one on the list that I could name off the top of my head without opening the article.
- dghughes 6y agoThe Poisoner's Handbook on PBS is a great documentary it mentions lead in gas but also showed police forensic science was developed. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/poisoners/ https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/poisoners/
- aYsY4dDQ2NrcNzA 6y agoI recommend the book.
- Breza 6y agoI second this suggestion. Although I got strange looks on the bus when I was reading it...
- jacquesm 6y agoWho knows what Midgley would have come up with if he had lived to the ripe old age of 85. We collectively dodged a bullet there.