Deadly Colors

Most pigments today are synthetic, meaning man-made, but safe natural minerals like ochres are still used. It was found over time that some natural mineral pigments are toxic and harmful to people.

Scheele’s Green, made from copper, sodium carbonate and arsenious oxide, has been implicated in the death of the French emperor, Napoleon. His entire house was painted with this vibrant green that unfortunately releases the poison arsenic into the air.

The U.S. Capitol building was once coated in bright white lead paint. Lead was used in paint because of the brilliant white color it achieved. For years, no one associated the lead with ailments that many painters got. Now we know that lead is deadly and it’s no longer in use in paint!

School busses used to be covered in a toxic chromium paint that was called School Bus Chrome. Not anymore! Thankfully, the same yellow can now be made safely. All children’s paints and crayons are non-toxic now, as well as many paints for adults.

Sally Williams is a lifelong learner currently teaching high school earth science, environmental science and horticulture. Her love of rocks began at an early age with a fascination with geodes, opals and everything shiny. Her best advice to students is to stay curious, and your life will always be interesting.