4 ms·

I read that the ancient Romans also used lead pipes. They too knew it had horrific health effects, and they used it anyway: lead is cheap, and the government wa

• ceejayoz 6y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing#Water_pipes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumbing#Water_pipes > Despite the Romans' common use of lead pipes, their aqueducts rarely poisoned people. Unlike other parts of the world where lead pipes cause poisoning, the Roman water had so much calcium in it that a layer of plaque prevented the water contacting the lead itself. What often causes confusion is the large amount of evidence of widespread lead poisoning, particularly amongst those who would have had easy access to piped water, an unfortunate result of lead being used in cookware and as an additive to processed food and drink (for example as a preservative in wine).
  • dudeinjapan 6y ago
    Ah didn't know this! I think the lead workers did still suffer exposure effects; they roughly knew something was up with lead.