5 ms·
A repair guy taught me recently that up until the 40s cadmium was used as a layer on some metallic devices, then people realized it was toxic. Funny.
by agumonkey 2y ago
A repair guy taught me recently that up until the 40s cadmium was used as a layer on some metallic devices, then people realized it was toxic. Funny.
- cmrdporcupine 2y agoI mean, I can do better (worse). Up until .. the 60s? 70s? They used to literally spray lead-arsenate on apple orchards as a pesticide. Incredibly effective one, too. Just that unfortunate thing of poisoning the top soil forever. A lot of those old apple orchards have had other things done with them since. Which is kind of scary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_hydrogen_arsenate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_hydrogen_arsenate "US EPA banned use of lead arsenate on food crops in 1988."
- userbinator 2y agoStill widely used in military/aerospace. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plating#Cadmium_plating https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plating#Cadmium_plating
- iSnow 2y agoAlso in pigments. There still has to be lots and lots of old devices, paint in houses, glass ware etc. around that derive their color from Cadmium. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_pigments https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_pigments