Lead paint creates serious health risks, but this ad is from 1939, when lead in paint was normal. Many countries phased in bans starting in the 1970s or 80s, mandating lower and lower concentrations over time, or restricting permissible uses, or both. Some countries still allow unrestricted use of lead paint in 2026.
Lead exposure is very bad for anyone, especially children. Unlike certain other toxins, there's no known safe level of exposure, and it bioaccumulates. There are many other routes into the body besides paint, and some are associated with increased crime rates and intellectual deficits in children.
That's one way of putting it
Titanium and zinc make nice white paints but they're not as biologically effective
Zinc is a little too translucent, titanium is expensive. Lead was great paint! Unfortunately lead paint chips have a slightly sweet taste...
My son got lead poisoning when he was a baby, it wasn't real bad but bad enough the city had to come in and we got out of our lease. This was like 18 years ago, but it was absolutely terrifying
Titanium hwhite
because they aren't toxic to life.