Our Lives with Lead
Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development at University College London, on the impact of the use and abuse of lead on humanity, from the iron age to the present day.
From the plumbing of ancient Rome, to lead acid batteries, paint, petrol and a dangerous legacy, the metal lead has seen a myriad of uses and abuses over thousands of years. In bullets and poisons it has killed us both quickly and slowly, and yet its malleability, low melting point and resistance to corrosion make it a fantastic material for all kinds of containers and water proofing. And it is key to one of the most commonly used, and ignored, devices on the planet, the car battery.
However it's only recently that the serious impact of lead poisoning on the development of children's brains has come to light.
Uta Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development at University College London, who studied the impact of lead poisoning in the 1970s and 80s, journeys with lead from the iron age to the present day delving into the history and scandal associated with this often overlooked element.
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- Tue 16 Jan 2018 11:0091热爆 Radio 4
- Mon 22 Jan 2018 21:0091热爆 Radio 4
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