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The History of Lead, Benjamin Franklin, Ludwig van Beethoven and Home Lead Test Kits
Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter on July 31, 1786 that spoke of North Carolina residents complaining of medical problems related to rum made in New England. He describes citizens, that where poisoned by this rum, loosing the use of their limbs. Because of this North Carolina passed a law that alcohol could not be imported into North Carolina that was made with leaden Still-heads and Worms. Apparently the compression fitting on the distiller was made of lead.
Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Siffred Duplessis
Fast forward 10-15 years later the letter describes Mr. Franklin observing and or hearing second hand that vegetables and other green plants would not grow around the Lead Ore Smelting furnaces. Being who he was, Benjamin Freeking Franklin, he wrote about observing moss that never seemed to grow where a “Roof was painted with white lead, such as Balusters, or Frames of dormant Windows, &c”.
While he was ambassador of the United States to France in 1767 he visited a hospital where he came across a sheet that contained patients ailments by their profession. He noticed a patten in tradesmen that worked with lead all exhibited signs he recognized as lead poisoning.
The Energy Department’s Argonne National Laboratory, outside of Chicago, confirmed that lead had caused Ludwig van Beethoven death in 1827 at the age of 56. Ludwig spent a lifetime drinking wine from lead cups and received medical treatments that were often laced with heavy metals.
We have known about the dangers of lead for over 200 years. How is it possible that as a society we have not said enough is enough. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry lists lead as the second most toxic substance. To give you an example of how shocked you should be…..CYANIDE was listed 28th.
2007 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
Your home and products you have procured over the years might be a danger to your family. Anyone with a 10th grade education knows that lead is harmful. Check4Lead.com sells Home Lead Test Kits that will help you identify lead in your home. Until our government decides to outlaw lead as a consumer product material it is important to identify lead in your home. Extension cords, Christmas lights, paint made prior to 1970 and window frames made prior to 1970 are all suspect. Any toys, and I mean any toys made in China are also suspect. If an American staple like Thomas the Train has dropped the ball then anything toy is not safe.
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