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That deadly green color that was everywhere
This story begins in 19th century England. At that time, with the Industrial Revolution, factories everywhere, and a sky full of smoke, people were very fond of the green color of nature. Meanwhile, a very attractive, light green color came into the limelight. It was called 'Scheele's Green'. This color is named after the Swedish chemist who discovered it in 1778. This color became so popular that it was used on everything from the walls of Buckingham Palace to book covers, clothes, toys, cake decorations, and candies. It was the "it" color at that time, that is, the most popular color.But behind this beauty lay a deadly secret. This pigment was made by mixing copper and oxygen with the highly toxic element arsenic .Simply put, people at that time were unknowingly applying this deadly poison to their homes and even their bodies.
What exactly is arsenic?
Arsenic is an element that can be found naturally in our earth and groundwater. At that time, doctors also used arsenic in small amounts to treat diseases such as fever, asthma, and eczema . Surprisingly, even today, a compound called arsenic trioxide is successfully used as a chemotherapy drug to treat a very severe type of leukemia, Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. But at the same time, people have known for centuries that arsenic is a terrible poison. In history, it was also called the "king of poisons" because it was used to secretly kill the enemies of kings. Because it has no smell or taste, it can be easily mixed into food and drink. Also, since the first symptoms of arsenic poisoning, such as nausea , vomiting , and stomach cramps , are similar to the symptoms of diseases such as cholera, which were common at the time, no one suspected that it was a murder.Accident revealed
As early as 1839, a German chemist warned about this. He said that if Scheele's Green was hung in damp rooms, it could give off a poisonous gas. Shortly after that report was published, four children in London died of respiratory failure. Their rooms had been freshly hung with this green wallpaper. When the wallpaper was later tested, it was found to contain a lethal amount of arsenic per square foot. Other deaths and illnesses were also caused by this green color. One doctor discovered the arsenic in these walls when he investigated the fact that he would come out of his green-walled room every night with stomach aches, dizziness, and the urge to vomit. He said, "Many people in Britain are slowly being poisoned."
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Check Availability →What happens when arsenic enters the body?
The harm that arsenic does to the body depends mainly on the amount (dose) ingested. Let's see what the effects are.| Nature of poisoning | Symptoms and results |
|---|---|
| Acute Poisoning ( ingestion of a large amount at once) |
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| Chronic Poisoning (intake over a long period of time) |
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The end of color and the lesson for us
Despite these warnings, green wallpaper was big business at the time. Even William Morris, a famous wallpaper designer, used the pigment. Not only that, he was also a shareholder in the largest arsenic company of the time. He mocked the arsenic fear by saying, “It’s like the fear of witches.” In 1879, however, a royal guest at Buckingham Palace fell ill after sleeping in a room with green wallpaper. After this incident, Queen Victoria ordered all the green wallpaper in the palace to be removed . Gradually, public awareness spread through newspaper reports. Before the government could legislate, people themselves began to reject products containing arsenic. This forced manufacturers to develop safer pigments.The most important thing we understand from this story is that it is not good to be fooled by the external beauty of something. It also shows how powerful public awareness is when it comes to public health.Even today, it is a challenge to recreate the green color of nature. Even some of the green pigments used today are not very environmentally friendly. Human attempts to imitate nature are still risky.
💡 Take-Home Message
- There can sometimes be hidden dangers behind seemingly beautiful things, so be careful, especially with products that contain chemicals.
- Arsenic is a deadly poison that can be fatal if ingested in large quantities at once, and can cause cancer and other serious diseases if ingested slowly.
- If you or someone you know suspects any form of poisoning, see a doctor immediately or contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital.Call the National Poisons Information Centre.
- Public awareness regarding health can be as powerful as, or even more powerful than, government laws and regulations.
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