This paper will briefly review the selling of lead paints to Americans in the first half of the 20th century. During this period, as the medical and public health community hesitantly pieced together the dangers to the public posed by the widespread introduction of lead into the broader environment, the lead industry marketed lead to the public in ever more interesting ways. Here, we look at a few examples of this marketing in order to trace the collision between public health and the interests of a huge industry, and specifically, the industry's use of the image of the child in the early decades of the century. We're looking at the role of commercial interests in perpetuating error and controlling behavior" and actively promoting a known toxin for use on walls and woodwork of interior surfaces. Illustrating the talk will be original ads and promotional children's literature developed by the industry to make sure that children and their parents would be assured of lead's usefulness around the home, the playroom and the bedrooms of America, thereby guaranteeing the development of a public health crisis for the following half-century. See dcworks.net/envhealth/adpics/index.htm
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: History, Environmental Health Hazards
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.