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Neil deGrasse Tyson said in an episode of Cosmos that even the Romans understood lead was dangerous, but it was a convenient metal to work with, so they used it

Neil deGrasse Tyson said in an episode of Cosmos that even the Romans understood lead was dangerous, but it was a convenient metal to work with, so they used it anyway

lazide 5y ago
More than just dangerous, it was a known death sentence to be working in lead mining/smelting and a common poison [https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historical-perspective.html https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historic...]. Like you note, it was also extremely convenient and relatively cheap. Pretty sure at least some of the chemicals we’re using now in soaps or for food processing will have something nasty associated with them once time has passed.
- nebula8804 5y ago
  It will probably be Triclosan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan#Health_concerns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan#Health_concerns
  - ak217 5y ago
    It's already been phased out
tedd4u 5y ago
And not just and convenient metal, but a preferred food and wine sweetener. For real!
- jhallenworld 5y ago
  They should have used diethylene glycol, like the Austrians: https://www.thewinestalker.net/2015/04/austria.html https://www.thewinestalker.net/2015/04/austria.html I wonder which tastes better?
- masklinn 5y ago
  Also an important pigment (white lead), which was not only widely used in paints until the 20th century (though the US amongst others still hasn't signed the 1923 white lead convention), but also hugely popular cosmetics (skin whiteners): lead powder, lead paints, lead/mercury, lead/vinegar (venetian ceruse).
thatguy0900 5y ago
Roman's also knew asbestos was bad. It was well documented that sending a slave to work in asbestos mines meant they would get lung sickness, and some slaves tried using masks made of pig bladder when mining.
- kubanczyk 5y ago
  Citation needed. Seems that the few available Roman primary sources do not support it: Rachel Maines "Asbestos and Fire" pp. 27-28 https://books.google.com/books?id=5r2jEGLvxP4C&pg=PA28 https://books.google.com/books?id=5r2jEGLvxP4C&pg=PA28 AFAIK work in any Roman mine was considered a death sentence in the long run.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

Neil deGrasse Tyson said in an episode of Cosmos that even the Romans understood lead was dangerous, but it was a convenient metal to work with, so they used it anyway

lazide 5y ago

More than just dangerous, it was a known death sentence to be working in lead mining/smelting and a common poison [https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historical-perspective.html https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/lead-poisoning-historic...]. Like you note, it was also extremely convenient and relatively cheap. Pretty sure at least some of the chemicals we’re using now in soaps or for food processing will have something nasty associated with them once time has passed.

nebula8804 5y ago
It will probably be Triclosan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan#Health_concerns https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triclosan#Health_concerns
- ak217 5y ago
  It's already been phased out

tedd4u 5y ago

And not just and convenient metal, but a preferred food and wine sweetener. For real!

jhallenworld 5y ago
They should have used diethylene glycol, like the Austrians: https://www.thewinestalker.net/2015/04/austria.html https://www.thewinestalker.net/2015/04/austria.html I wonder which tastes better?
masklinn 5y ago
Also an important pigment (white lead), which was not only widely used in paints until the 20th century (though the US amongst others still hasn't signed the 1923 white lead convention), but also hugely popular cosmetics (skin whiteners): lead powder, lead paints, lead/mercury, lead/vinegar (venetian ceruse).

thatguy0900 5y ago

Roman's also knew asbestos was bad. It was well documented that sending a slave to work in asbestos mines meant they would get lung sickness, and some slaves tried using masks made of pig bladder when mining.

kubanczyk 5y ago
Citation needed. Seems that the few available Roman primary sources do not support it: Rachel Maines "Asbestos and Fire" pp. 27-28 https://books.google.com/books?id=5r2jEGLvxP4C&pg=PA28 https://books.google.com/books?id=5r2jEGLvxP4C&pg=PA28 AFAIK work in any Roman mine was considered a death sentence in the long run.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]