white lead
Old paint ingredient
White lead is a white powder of basic lead carbonate, historically the most important white pigment in paint.
Its opacity and smooth texture made it ideal for house paint and artists' oils for centuries.
White lead fell from use in the twentieth century after its severe toxicity—especially to children and painters—became undeniable.
Art made with linseed-bound pigments
- primerPreparatory coat or guide
- undercoatPreparatory paint layer
- opacityImpermeability to light
- linseed oilPressed flax-derived drying medium
canvas · ground · gesso · old masters · tempera · encaustic · colorant · pigmentation
Preventing metal degradation
- primerPreparatory coat or guide
- protective coatingMaterial shielding a surface
- rust inhibitorSubstance preventing metal oxidation
- sealantGap-blocking substance
alkyd · corrosion-resistant · shipbuilding · structural steel
Likely to cause injury
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- abatementDecrease in force
- encapsulationSurrounding on all sides
- chelationChemical metal-ion capture
bioaccumulation · neurotoxic · occupational hazard · banned · regulation · flaking · chalking · dust
oil painting
Art made with linseed-bound pigments
linseed oil · canvas · ground · gesso · old masters · tempera · encaustic · colorant · pigmentation
anticorrosive
Preventing metal degradation
- primerPreparatory coat or guide
- protective coatingMaterial shielding a surface
- rust inhibitorSubstance preventing metal oxidation
sealant · alkyd · corrosion-resistant · shipbuilding · structural steel
hazardous
Likely to cause injury
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- abatementDecrease in force
- encapsulationSurrounding on all sides
chelation · bioaccumulation · neurotoxic · occupational hazard · banned · regulation · flaking · chalking · dust · ingestion
- LeadPb, galena
- ancient cosmeticskohl, galena, malachite, ochre, red ochre
- historical beautykohl, rouge, carmine, vermilion, rice powder
- pigmentsochre, ultramarine, sienna, umber, vermilion
- lead pigments
- old chemistryphlogiston, alchemy, caloric, aqua regia, muriatic acid