blogs.plos.org

wgvE TIL that in 1924, when Standard Oil was researching tetraethyl lead as a gasoline additive, 32 of 49 workers had to be hospitalized due to lead poisoning, and 5 of them died. A federal panel made entirely of industry scientists later concluded that there “no danger” from tetraethyl lead.
rJP4 TIL the “Loony Gas Building” was the name given to an old Standard Oil plant in 1924 after every single man who worked there was hospitalized for insanity… 5 of which died. The plant was manufacturing a new, breakthrough product: leaded gasoline additive.
oWQW TIL John Snow is considered the Father of Modern Epidemiology, after successfully tracing back a cholera infection to a water pump in London in 1854.