> He did not have the foresight to see that seemingly inconsequential scientific and industrial decisions can have immeasurable outcomes. Lead toxicity wasn't

> He did not have the foresight to see that seemingly inconsequential scientific and industrial decisions can have immeasurable outcomes. Lead toxicity wasn't some big unforeseeable surprise, there was over two millennia of documentation on the dangers of lead when Midgley kicked off the mass production of tetraethyl lead. It's better to just say the man was cursed. He also brought Freon to market. Arguably no living person has done as much environmental damage as he accomplished single-handedly. As Bill Bryson said, he had "an instinct for the regrettable that was almost uncanny."