One Man Killed More Than Any Single Person In Human History
Thomas Midgely, Jr.: “one-man environmental disaster”
My purpose in writing this is share an appalling history with you, my readers. That history is best imparted through the video at the end of my short essay on Thomas Midgely, Jr.
Thomas Midgely, Jr, was one of the lead chemical engineers at General Motors on the development of tetraethyllead (TEL) — then known as “ tetraethyl lead program” — inventing leaded gas. While leaded gas was in wide use, his product poisoned generations of humanity and has caused the premature deaths of millions upon millions — up to 1.2 million PER YEAR — making Midgely the single most proflific mass killer in all of human history. The ramifications of his chemical invention continues to impact our environment and ourselves.
Of course, his invention didn’t reach every corner of the world unassisted. Expediency and greed assured the world would pay an incalulable price to enrich Midgely’s corporate partners. They knew the dangers of the product but dismissed them, actively worked to discredit and/or unseat anyone who challenged their unimaginably profitable poison. The world had known the detriments of lead for centuries.
Lead poisoning causes immense societal harm: brain…
