Discover the Dark Side: Top 4 Jaw-Dropping Fun Facts About Arsenic

1. Inhaling the Wallpaper: Arsenic in Victorian Home Decor

You've heard of "watching paint dry," but what about "inhaling the wallpaper"? Murderously delightful, isn't it?: In Victorian times, arsenic-based pigments like Scheele’s green were used in wallpaper, causing toxic effects and were eventually deemed dangerous, leading to the British government introducing regulations, a shift in public perception, and the eventual adoption of safer alternatives.
Source => slam.org

2. Arsenic: Syphilis Cure of Yesteryear

Once prescribed as a cure for lovesick hearts and itchy private parts: arsenic was actually a popular medical treatment for syphilis until its deadly toxicity and menacing effects on the liver, lungs, bladder, and skin – not to mention its status as a known carcinogen – kicked it out of the medicinal hall of fame.
Source => jmvh.org

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3. Fowl Play: Arsenic in Chicken Feed

Why did the chicken cross the road? To escape its arsenic-infused feed, of course: Arsenic used to be added to chicken feed as roxarsone to combat parasites, but this practice has been widely banned as it can lead to a buildup of inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, in chicken livers and pose potential health risks for humans.
Source => drweil.com

4. Killer Interior Design: The Deadly Green Wallpaper

Who knew interior design could be a killer? Quite literally, with the vibrant greens of 19th-century wallpaper sealing the fate of many unsuspecting dwellers: The culprit was copper arsenite, a toxic arsenic compound used to color these green wallpapers, which released deadly fumes in warm and damp conditions, leading to breathing issues and fatalities. The grim reality was unveiled after London public health officer, Henry Letheby, investigated the deaths of four children exposed to lethal doses of arsenic from their oh-so-trendy walls. This fashionable poison's risks were first suspected by German chemist Leopold Gmelin in 1839, marking the end of a toxic design era.
Source => mmta.co.uk