Lead paint creates serious health risks, but this ad is from 1939, when lead in paint was normal. Many countries phased in bans starting in the 1970s or 80s, mandating lower and lower concentrations over time, or restricting permissible uses, or both. Some countries still allow unrestricted use of lead paint in 2026.
Lead exposure is very bad for anyone, especially children. Unlike certain other toxins, there's no known safe level of exposure, and it bioaccumulates. There are many other routes into the body besides paint, and some are associated with increased crime rates and intellectual deficits in children.
Apparently, lead in paint made it taste sweet, which is where all the allusions to kids eating paint chips, or "wall candy" may have come from.
The Romans sweetened their wine with sugar of lead, lead acetate I think it was. Lead that went right to your head
I think they also used lead vessels which inevitably leeched into their food and drinks
I miss chewing on the sweet, sweet lead blinds. Troy McClure saved my life with his PSA: Lead Paint, Delicious ...but Deadly"
Yep, and on top of that, after enough time it could break down into fine dust, leading to inhalation, even if a child never directly chewed on a window sill.
Nasty, in residential applications. I feel like it has some common ground with hookworm, having degrading social effects, and imposing its problems over time.
Lead was also in car exhaust because of leaded gas so they were screwed either way.
Lead was also used in the toy truck that my dad gamermsuizkkksjsjjennensndnd
It’s still in small plane fuel and there are measurable effects within certain radii of small airfields.
They call it low lead, but it still has twice the lead, 2 grams per gallon, than automotive fuel had in the 60-80s.
They could blend ethanol to get the higher octane, but nah.
The FAA has approved a zero lead option but the GA pilots (rich old guys) don’t want to risk anything new in the 40-60 year old engines.
Ethanol isn’t great though since it attacks seals and fuel pump membranes and those planes sit still a lot, especially during winters.