• Marxism-Fennekinism@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    89
    ·
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    Fun fact: the Romans knew that lead was toxic from their own observations, but still chose to use it because it was just so useful, and because the health effects are chronic so do not manifest for a long time, meaning it could be much more easily ignored until it was too late.

    Sound familiar?

    • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      11 months ago

      It’s not as uf they could easily solder copper pipes either.

      Lead was immensely convenient. It’s no wonder it’s still called plumbing (plumbum is lead, in case you missed that bit).