Arsenic-Rich Wallpapers That Are Injurious To Health

 

Wallpapers are known to give a decorative, extravagant and elaborate feel to the house, but these wallpapers were once proven to be life-threatening. 

It is indeed an absurd question but how can wallpapers be dangerous to human life? 

Wallpapers often harbor a chemical element called Arsenic, which when inhaled or touched can cause harmful effects on the body. Every wallpaper differs in their concentration of Arsenic and higher the concentration, higher the toxicity it imparts. 

The concept of wallpapers was introduced in the mid 1860, when Americans started using them to decorate their homes, but soon a doctor diagnosed a serious problem with being around these Arsenic rich wallpapers all the time. 

Doctors were concerned about their patients health and well-being as the arsenic-rich wallpapers could transfer their toxicity to humans by way of inhalation or even touch. 

Doctors tried to create awareness about wallpapers rich in arsenic and its drawbacks for human health, but most of these warnings fell on deaf ears and people continued the decorative act of using wallpapers for their homes. Therefore, Dr. Robert M Kedz, a professor of chemistry and a surgeon during the American Civil War, wrote a book of over 100 pages and named it "Shadows From The Walls Of Death" 

The book had a deep analysis of how Arsenic affects the health. The book gained massive popularity with 100s of copies making their way through public and school libraries in Michigan. 

There was a peculiarity about this book written by Robert. The book contained sample of wallpapers, the same wallpapers that were rich in Arsenic. 

The author warned people against the use of arsenic wallpapers amongst the pages of the book by way of a note right at the beginning of his book. He also emphasized on the importance of keeping these books away from Kids and those with a pre-existing medical condition. 

The book was later banned and destroyed by the library administrators and currently there are only 4 copies of the book by Robert, which are thought to have been preserved in the Michigan State University, Harvard and the US national library of medicine. 

A few years ago, the book was digitalized and made available globally, to help spread awareness of being prudent while selecting your home décor.  

Written By - Keerthana Bharadwaj 

Edited By - Tushna Choksey