Page 30 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Lead and the body
Lead is a heavy, unreactive substance. These very properties have been used for the benefit of health, and they have also caused major health problems.
Although lead has many advantages outside the body, such as protecting people from overdoses of harmful radiation, it has become widely known
in recent years for its harmful effects inside the body. Examples of this are given on these pages and on pages 32 and 33. Lead is by no means the only substance that can harm the body; but because it was used so widely in fuels and paints, its effects were readily noticed.
Lead in cosmetics of the past
Body painting was the earliest use of cosmetics, meant to protect the body from evil spirits. Many of the original natural cosmetics also helped to protect the wearer from flies. As a result, cosmetics were most often applied to the areas around the eyes. One of the most common cosmetics was
a white pigment made from white lead. The ancient civilisations of the Middle East used to paint eyelashes and eyebrows with a black paste that included lead sulphide (galena) and soot. Later, the Romans made white face powder using white lead. It was extremely poisonous.
The modern art of make-up developed in Europe, especially in France and in Venice, Italy. Venetians made a specially desirable form of paste known as cerise. It had the effect of making the skin of the face white. It, too, was made from white lead.
People knew that using lead on the face would eventually result in lead poisoning, causing deterioration of complexion, baldness and eventually death. Nevertheless, so great was the desire
to look beautiful that many poisoned themselves through this particularly dangerous form of make-up.
 In Roman times, and despite being known as a poison, lead was added to drinks because it enhanced their flavour.
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