Lead acetate, also known as lead sugar, has been used since Roman times as a sweetener. It is toxic and has been linked to the deaths of historical figures. It is still used in hair dyes and cosmetics in some countries, but is highly regulated due to its toxicity. It is also used in toners and mining. Handling should be done with protective gear and it is deadly to fish and aquatic organisms. Its production quantities are difficult to determine.
Lead acetate is a soluble, white, crystalline compound that has been produced since Roman times as a form of sweetener by boiling grape juice in lead pots, and is commonly referred to as lead sugar. Pope Clement II is known to have died of lead sugar poisoning in October 1047, as were potentially other notable historical figures such as Ludwig van Beethoven. Indeed, much of the Roman aristocracy is thought to have been poisoned by the regular consumption of saba, a wine-based syrupy sweetener made from lead acetate. Although the toxicity of lead is widely known today, lead acetate is still used in cosmetics in some countries, in hair coloring products and to make lead acetate paper.
Common industrial uses of lead acetate include incorporation into toners in the photochemical industry and as an activating agent in the mining of sulfide ores. While it is no longer permitted in cosmetic products in Western nations, its use in hair dyes as a color additive is still widespread and has been permitted in these products for over 40 years. Human studies of long-term use of lead acetate-containing hair dyes have not found increased levels of lead in the bloodstream. It is seen as an effective additive in hair dye formulas, as lead acetate will bind to proteins in human hair, thus making the coloring process last longer.
Other names for lead acetate include lead salt, salt of Saturn, and lead(II) acetate or lead ethanoate. It is considered highly toxic to the unborn child and can cross the placenta causing stillbirth. It is also known to be deadly to fish and all aquatic organisms if introduced into the water supply.
Handling of the chemical should be done with protective gloves, safety goggles, clothing, and barrier creams on exposed skin, with women of childbearing potential limited from exposure as much as possible. Because it is highly soluble, it can dissolve in water, producing toxic and corrosive acetic acid vapor that has a slight vinegar odor. Emergency personnel dealing with lead acetate spills should wear self contained breathing apparatus.
Production quantities of lead acetate worldwide are difficult to determine due to both its heritage of being produced over many centuries. It is also increasingly limited. It is produced in a variety of nations from India to the United Kingdom and the United States.
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