This seems like revisionist history. The toxic effects of lead might have been known, but people were burning coal for heat. Life was more difficult, and the risk/reward decisions were different. Applying the lessons of the 1960s environmental movement (Silent Spring, 1962) to the very different 1920s era is misleading. It took more than 50 years to phase out lead’s use in gasoline, paint, and the water supply. Over these 50 years, the US became wealthier and so could more easily make these environmental choices. Blaming someone for millions of deaths should be put in a more reasonable historical context. Maybe mention that lead was widely used in other products at the time.
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Let’s not white wash the greed and corruption of corporations.
They knew many of the ill effects of their products and hide the truth from the public, and they kept science revelations from seeing the light of day or they were dismissed as bad science. Corporations have the money and the control the news media and the politicians.
Leaded gasoline would never have allowed if the public had been told the truth. Did the auto/oil companies ever ask the public: Do you want lead poisoning from gasoline additives or autos that must be designed to not ping without lead additives?
Corporations keep hiding secrets even today. We have learned that EXXON and other oil majors have lied to the public that their products by stating that they do not pollute the air with toxins and greenhouse gas emissions.
Yes life is easier with polluting fossil fuels, but when does the public get to say it is wanted over healthier lives?
Jaak
P.S. - Greed is evident on this board with people advocating others to invest in dirty energy instead of clean energy.