7 Well-Meaning Inventions That Turned Evil

7. Leaded Petrol

Back in the early 20th century, industrialisation was the defining factor of human progress, and the environment was seen as little more than space for another factory. A key part of humanity's steady march to irreversible environmental damage was the discovery of tatraethyllead. This lead-based compound, when mixed with gasoline, was found to boost octane levels and help reduce 'knocking' of the engine in cars of the time. It was welcome as a miracle substance, and was soon being used in cars worldwide. Hindsight now shows us that putting lead in petrol was one of the worst mass poisonings ever carried out. For over 70 years (and still in some countries today), cars were emitting noxious fumes that were inhaled by millions of people around the world. Children were particularly vulnerable, and in some countries - such as India - governments estimated that as many as half of all children had suffered some degree of brain damage from inhaling lead fumes. The exact extent of the damage caused to people by leaded petrol is unknown, but its effects were global. Early warnings in 1954 from British chemist Derek Bryce-Smith about the dangers of leaded petrol were dismissed, but his ideas eventually gained traction. Leaded petrol started being phased out in the 1970s, and is illegal in most of the world today.
In this post: 
Adolf Hitler
 
First Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Gamer, Researcher of strange things. I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.