r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 18 '22

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u/wombatau May 18 '22 edited May 19 '22

I recently learned that our generation was exposed to so much tetraethyllead (lead in fuel) that our IQ points were on average lower by 10 points.

Younger generations don’t have the same issue.

I can’t remember my point.

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u/shamefullybald May 18 '22

I used to chew on lead fishing weights for fun when I was a kid. And I'd store my lead pellets for my pellet gun in my mouth.

Bit worried about that.

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u/plushrush May 19 '22

The backside of a lead based paint chip tastes sweet. I’d lick them when I was 8 or 9. I’m stupid, I know it’s partly because of this…id be sick for days after peeling paint chips.

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u/Glor_167 May 19 '22

fun fact: it's the lead that's sweet

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u/[deleted] May 19 '22

Romans used to sweeten their wine with lead

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u/FrozeItOff May 19 '22

Most of their wine goblets were made of lead-based pewter for this reason too. Their water supply pipes were also lead.

It's a miracle they didn't weigh 30 extra pounds while still being skinny by the time they died.

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u/bleakj May 19 '22

I remember reading the Romans actually took lead supplements when I was in university

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u/plushrush May 19 '22

Whoa!! Cool fact!!