One BIG thing most people forget....

[Hekate]

4. 1978 in the USA. 1909 in parts of Europe. 1922 by the League of Nations.

Jeez, we can be backward.

Lead makes paint more durable, including the colors. But it is sweetish, so children who live in decaying houses with peeling paint -- or just houses built before 1978 -- can find paint chips and put them in their mouths. Lead-poisoning in children causes neurological disorders (behavioral, cognitive) and even death, and it is still a particular problem of inner city poverty. It is very harmful, even deadly, to adults as well.

If you have an old house, say a charming Victorian that you are rehabbing, get it tested. And for Gods' sake don't go sanding the paint off, as that just spreads it finely into the air where you can breathe it.

Beware of kiddie jewelry and trinkets, especially from Mexico: they often have high lead content.

The Romans not only used lead for piping water, but as an additive in wine that was shipped all over Europe.

Here's a link to Toxipedia: http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/History+of+Lead+Use

Hekate