Why did we use leaded petrol for so long? (2017)
4 months ago
- #industrial history
- #public health
- #environmental impact
- Leaded petrol was introduced despite known health risks, with its inventor Thomas Midgley publicly downplaying dangers.
- Workers in plants producing tetraethyl lead suffered severe health effects, including hallucinations and death, leading to public concern.
- General Motors, Standard Oil, and DuPont promoted leaded petrol despite safer alternatives like ethyl alcohol being available.
- The debate over leaded petrol highlighted broader societal conflicts between industrial progress and public health.
- The US delayed banning leaded petrol until the 1970s, with subsequent studies linking its phase-out to reduced violent crime rates.
- Thomas Midgley's other major invention, CFCs, also had unintended harmful consequences, contributing to ozone layer depletion.