The use of lead has been gradually phased out progressively over the years, but one must never forget why that is. Tetraethyl lead was introduced as an alternative to ethanol by two scientists, Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering. Even though the corroboration indicates various culprits. It is apparent that the blame cannot lie on health organizations or the government, but solely on the scientists producing the deadly chemical. Tetraethyl lead was an issue that was put to rest 17 years ago, the culprits, Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering, should be held accountable for the lives Tetraethyl lead took in the early 1930's. The scientists, Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering, were at fault for their ignorance to the dangers lead posed, for
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Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering's decision to integrate Tetraethyl lead as an anti-knock in gasoline completely backfired. Not only did Tetraethyl lead negatively impact society, it also impacted the health of laborers. According to Jessica Reyes from the National Bureau of Economic Research, "between 1992 and 2002, the phase-out of lead from gasoline was responsible for approximately a 56% decline in violent crime" (Reyes). Tetraethyl lead contributed to higher crime rates and the deaths of 15 individuals. Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering not only ignored the signs of lead poisoning amongst their laborers, but they ignored others warnings as well. Other oppositions of lead came from a lab director for the Public Health Service (US Department of Health and Human Services branch) who wrote to Charles Kettering stating lead was a “serious menace to public health”. With serious health risks it was just a matter of time before Tetraethyl lead started taking lives. As a result, "At DuPont’s manufacturing plant in Deepwater New Jersey workers began to fall victim to lead poisoning... public controversy didn’t begin until five workers died and forty-four were hospitalized in Oct. of 1924 at Standard Oils plant in Bayway NJ" (Scott). Even though cases like such in New Jersey, Kettering and Midgley continued to back up that lead did not pose a threat to the public, before Thomas Midgley fell victim to lead poisoning. Yet, production of Tetraethyl lead would not stop for another 20 years, taking ten more lives with
Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering's decision to integrate Tetraethyl lead as an anti-knock in gasoline completely backfired. Not only did Tetraethyl lead negatively impact society, it also impacted the health of laborers. According to Jessica Reyes from the National Bureau of Economic Research, "between 1992 and 2002, the phase-out of lead from gasoline was responsible for approximately a 56% decline in violent crime" (Reyes). Tetraethyl lead contributed to higher crime rates and the deaths of 15 individuals. Thomas Midgley and Charles Kettering not only ignored the signs of lead poisoning amongst their laborers, but they ignored others warnings as well. Other oppositions of lead came from a lab director for the Public Health Service (US Department of Health and Human Services branch) who wrote to Charles Kettering stating lead was a “serious menace to public health”. With serious health risks it was just a matter of time before Tetraethyl lead started taking lives. As a result, "At DuPont’s manufacturing plant in Deepwater New Jersey workers began to fall victim to lead poisoning... public controversy didn’t begin until five workers died and forty-four were hospitalized in Oct. of 1924 at Standard Oils plant in Bayway NJ" (Scott). Even though cases like such in New Jersey, Kettering and Midgley continued to back up that lead did not pose a threat to the public, before Thomas Midgley fell victim to lead poisoning. Yet, production of Tetraethyl lead would not stop for another 20 years, taking ten more lives with