Roman lead plumbing

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MSE_F2016_01 · Materials Selection, Fall 2016 · §6.p4

Environmental externality. Roman lead production exceeded 10,000 tons per year for plumbing applications that would be impermissible today.

Can anybody think of an externality from your experience? Another one is lead poisoning. This is a plot on a log scale, tons of lead produced per year. These are the Roman lead mines, which eventually wore out, but they were taking over 10,000 tons a year. The Romans were making lead pipes — water pipes — for their plumbing. That wouldn't go over very well today. Does anyone know why children eat lead paint?