How the car and gas industry knew about the health risks of leaded fuel but sold it for 100 years anyway
- Written by: Bill Kovarik, Professor of Communication, Radford University
For decades, most gas sold in the U.S. contained a lead additive. Per Magnus Persson via Getty ImagesOn the frosty morning of Dec. 9, 1921, in Dayton, Ohio, researchers at a General Motors lab poured a new fuel blend into one of their test engines. Immediately, the engine began running more quietly and putting out more power.
The new fuel was...