Toxic Purity: The Progressive Era Origins of America' s Lead Paint Poisoning Epidemic
研究了20世纪初美国油漆行业在州和联邦立法中关于涂料定义的争论,各方一致认为优质涂料含大量铅且政府不应干预标准,这几乎确保了美国人在家中大量使用含铅涂料。
This paper examines a pivotal moment in the history of the built environment in America. At the beginning of the twentieth century, factions within the American paint industry fought in state and federal legislatures over the definition of paint: What was pure paint? Were new paint formulations to be encouraged, or labeled “adulterated”? Was the known toxicity of lead to be a consideration? Despite some opponents' recourse to a rhetoric of toxicity and public health, all sides agreed that the best paints contained a significant quantity of lead, and that government should stay out of setting industry standards. This accord all but assured that Americans would apply tons of lead paint on the walls of their homes.