Humanity’s relationship with lead is a sobering reminder of how a naturally occurring metal became one of the most pervasive and damaging public health hazards in modern history. The metal’s usefulness in industry and consumer products allowed it to infiltrate homes and our bodies for generations. But the toxic effects of lead cannot be denied. It has been documented repeatedly, and the Earth still suffers to this day.
But just how bad is it for the human health, exactly? And why did it end up in so many products in the first place? Click on to find out.