Packard5687 wrote:
Here is the story of the scientist who proved that lead added to gasoline was a major public health hazard and why it was ultimately removed from gas:http://mentalfloss.com/article/94569/clair-patterson-scientist-who-determined-age-earth-and-then-saved-it[/quote]

While I've been aware of this scientist and his work for many years, this is a very lengthy article. A much shorter, but just as informative piece was done in video on the television show, "Cosmos" with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson in recent years.

While it was a wonderful thing that lead has been removed from gasoline and that the environmental levels of lead are now on the decline, things sometimes go much too far. There is nothing like fanaticism in reforms or rules. A good example is that not long ago I was prevented from buying a beautiful mansion that was built in 1850. The reason? The VA inspector going through the house to approve the loan said he "discovered lead in the paint"!!!! Imagine that. A house built in 1850 with lead in the paint. Wow. That "discovery" by the VA inspector popped the balloon with the VA underwriter 10 days from the close of escrow... and that was that.