10 Deadly Things People Used To Think Were Harmless

By Peter Austin / February 5, 2016

2. Lead Paint

Lead-based pigments date back to 400BC and, over the subsequent millennia, were used to paint everything from fences to babies€™ cots. They came in assorted colours and were both durable and washable, so they basically ticked all the boxes. It€™s just a shame that they also, you know, caused lead poisoning. Sufferers' symptoms included bone problems, anaemia, seizures, confusion and eventual death.

Worse still are claims that lead paint actually tastes quite sweet, causing children to stick leaded toys in their mouths. If it didn€™t kill them first, lead poisoning in young children would also cause stunted growth and learning disabilities.

So that€™ll be one box it doesn€™t really tick then.