The Deadly Effects of Ethel

Thomas Midgley Jr. developed a new gasoline additive called Ethel to solve the problem of engine knocking in cars in the 1920s. However, Ethel contained tetraethyl lead, a compound known to be poisonous. Despite this knowledge, Midgley and the industry ignored the dangers of lead and marketed Ethel for its fuel-saving and speed-increasing properties. The production of leaded gasoline continued, resulting in widespread contamination of air, dust, soil, and water. It took decades for governments to ban leaded gasoline, with the United Nations announcing its global phase-out in 2021, which is estimated to prevent over 1.2 million premature deaths per year and decrease crime rates.