This graphic marks the birthday of Thomas Midgley, who was born in 1889. He didn’t have much luck with the whole chemical applications thing. His first major invention was coming up with the idea of using tetraethyl lead in petrol to stop engine knocking. Though it worked very well, it also released lead fumes from car engines. It caused lead toxicity in the workers creating the tetraethyl lead, elevated lead levels in the blood of the modern population compared to people in the 1800s, and has even been linked with an increase in violent crime levels. Midgley was aware of this toxicity (he suffered a bout of lead poisoning himself due to his work with tetraethyl lead) but denied any potential ill effects.
Midgley was also involved in the invention of Freon, the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant gas which was later linked to depleting the ozone layer. His poor record with inventions continued until his death – he contracted polio in his 50s, which left him severely disabled. He died when a rope and pulley contraption he’d assembled to help himself out of bed tangled around and strangled him.
As a result, he didn’t live to see tetraethyl lead’s phaseout, which began in the 1970s and was completed by 2000. Petrol that doesn’t contain it is still referred to as unleaded petrol, however.
There’s much more about Midgley & tetraethyl lead here: http://wp.me/s4aPLT-petrol
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