Arsenic green dyes were commonly used in wallpapers, fabrics, and even children’s clothing in the 19th century. These dyes contained high levels of arsenic, which made them very toxic. When arsenic green dyes break down over time, they can release arsenic dust into the air. Exposure to this dust causes a range of concerning symptoms, especially in children.
What is arsenic green dye?
Arsenic green dyes, also known as Paris green or Schweinfurt green, were popular green pigments used in the 1800s and early 1900s. They were made by combining copper arsenite or copper acetoarsenite with colorless salts. This produced a brilliant green color that was very effective for dyeing fabrics, wallpapers, and other household items.
While the vibrant green color was desirable, a major downside to these dyes was the high arsenic content. Paris green contains up to 80% arsenic by weight, while Scheele’s green contains about 65% arsenic. This makes them highly toxic and dangerous pigments.
How were arsenic green dyes used?
Arsenic green dyes were used for a variety of applications in the Victorian era:
– Wallpapers – Arsenic greens were very popular for wallpapers as they created a rich, emerald green color. However, arsenic dust could rub off wallpapers over time and contaminate the air.
– Fabrics – Silk, wool, and cotton fabrics were frequently dyed with Paris or Scheele’s green. Women’s dresses, curtains, upholstery, and other fabric items often used these toxic dyes.
– Children’s clothes – Incredibly, arsenic green dyes were even used for children’s clothing and nursery decor in the 1800s and early 1900s. Children often wore dresses, caps, and coats dyed with Paris green.
– Candles – Emerald green candles were created by dipping the wicks in arsenic green dye. Burning these candles released arsenic into the air.
– Artificial flowers – Paris green brought a lively color to artificial leaves and flowers. But flaking paint and dust exposed people to arsenic.
– Wallpapers and fabrics were most likely to release toxic arsenic dust into the air as they deteriorated over time. Exposure was amplified in small, enclosed spaces with limited ventilation.
Why was arsenic used in dyes?
Arsenic was added to dyes because it provided a few key benefits:
– Vibrant green color – The arsenic compounds created a very brilliant and saturated green color that was extremely popular at the time. Without arsenic, it was difficult to achieve a long-lasting emerald green.
– Improved stability – Arsenic helped the green pigments remain more colorfast and stable over time. The dyes retained their vivid green shades better than dyes without arsenic.
– Affordability – Arsenic green was cheaper to produce than other clear, stable green dyes. The vibrant hues could be achieved from inexpensive copper and arsenic.
– Pest resistance – Paris green was also highly effective as an insecticide. This meant fabrics dyed with Paris green helped deter pests like moths.
While arsenic improved the dye qualities, manufacturers continued using these hazardous pigments even once the toxicity was known. Safer alternatives were ignored to keep using the brilliant green arsenic dyes people preferred.
Arsenic toxicity and symptoms
Arsenic is an extremely toxic heavy metal. Soluble arsenic compounds like Paris green are especially hazardous as they can be readily absorbed.
Even small amounts of arsenic can lead to poisoning called arsenicosis. Both acute high-dose exposure and chronic low-dose exposure cause concerning symptoms:
Acute arsenic poisoning
High exposure over a short period of time can cause severe acute arsenic poisoning. This level of arsenic toxicity results in:
– Nausea and vomiting
– Abdominal pain
– Diarrhea
– Dehydration
– Shock
– Irregular heartbeat
– Seizures
– Coma or death in extreme cases
If arsenic poisoning is caught quickly, removing the source and treatment with chelating agents can help eliminate arsenic from the body. However, severe acute poisoning can lead to death.
Chronic arsenic poisoning
Ongoing low or moderate arsenic exposure over months or years leads to chronic arsenicosis or arsenic poisoning. This causes a wide array of worrisome symptoms:
Gastrointestinal
– Nausea
– Diarrhea
– Abdominal pain
Dermatological
– Dark brown spots on skin
– Hard patches or bumps on palms and soles
– White lines on nails
– Brittle nails
– Hair loss
Neurological
– Headaches
– Drowsiness
– Mental confusion
– Memory loss
– Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
Respiratory
– Cough
– Sore throat
– Breathing difficulty
Other
– Fatigue
– Weight loss
– Kidney damage
– Liver damage
– Cardiovascular disease
– Increased cancer risk
Chronic arsenic exposure, even at low levels, can be extremely harmful over time. The symptoms worsen progressively if arsenic exposure continues.
Arsenic green wallpapers
Arsenic green wallpapers were incredibly common in well-to-do Victorian homes in Europe and America in the 1800s to early 1900s. The vivid emerald green color was associated with nature, wealth, and style.
However, the arsenic pigments in the wallpapers posed serious health risks. The earliest case report of arsenic poisoning from wallpapers was documented in 1839.
Yet arsenic wallpapers remained popular for decades. By the 1870s, they were finally recognized as hazardous and declined in use.
How did arsenic wallpapers poison people?
While hanging on the wall, arsenic green wallpapers did not pose much risk. However, as the papers aged over years or decades, they released trivalent arsenic dust into the air:
– Humidity and molds weakened the papers, allowing arsenic to be released. Damp, poorly ventilated rooms accelerated wallpaper deterioration.
– Over time, the vivid green color often began to fade to a drab olive color as pigments deteriorated. This dust contained soluble arsenic compounds.
– Handling and discarding old wallpapers also stirred up toxic arsenic dust. Scraps were often repurposed for arts and crafts.
– Harmful arsenic fumes could also be produced if the wallpapers were burned. This happened if they were removed and disposed of in fireplaces.
Inhalation and ingestion of the arsenic dust led to chronic arsenic poisoning, especially in young children. Arsenic was also absorbed through contaminated hands put in mouths.
Where were arsenic green wallpapers used?
Arsenic green wallpapers were seen on the walls of many upper and middle-class Victorian homes. They were most common in:
– Living rooms
– Dining rooms
– Hallways
– Staircases
– Libraries
– Nurseries
These papers were shown off in entertaining spaces. But dangerously, they were also frequently used in children’s rooms along with arsenic-dyed fabrics and toys.
Health impacts
Multiple arsenic poisoning cases were traced back to aged arsenic green wallpaper in studies.
In a famous case in 1885, a 2-year old girl displayed symptoms like gastroenteritis, weakness, and pigmentation changes. Her sickness was finally linked to deteriorating arsenic green wallpaper in the nursery. When removed, her health improved.
Some notable health impacts linked to long-term arsenic wallpaper exposure include:
– Digestive issues – nausea, diarrhea, cramping abdominal pain
– Muscle weakness and fatigue
– Skin pigmentation changes
– White lines on fingernails
– Hair loss
– Neuropathy – tingling and numbness in hands and feet
Children were especially vulnerable to arsenic dust from wallpapers and fabrics in their rooms. But adults also developed chronic arsenic poisoning symptoms after prolonged exposure.
Ongoing low-level arsenic exposure could persist for years before a diagnosis was made. Relief of symptoms was often seen after removing contaminated wallpapers.
Health impacts of arsenic green fabrics
Along with wallpapers, Victorian era fabrics and clothing dyed with arsenic green dyes also caused arsenic poisoning. These included:
– Silk gowns, dresses, and ribbons
– Curtains and drapes
– Upholstered chairs and sofas
– Wool garments
– Linens like tablecloths and bedsheets
Like wallpapers, the fabric dyes deteriorated into arsenic dust with age, moisture, and sun exposure. Handling and wearing the antique fabrics stirred up the dust.
Wearing aged arsenic green garments was considered a risk factor for toxicity. Arsenic dust could be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Cases of skin rashes and irritation were also reported.
In the 1860s, a woman developed headaches, stomach pain, and vomiting. Her illness was tracked to an arsenic green dress she wore frequently. Her symptoms diminished after stopping use of the dress.
Especially concerning was the use of these dyes in children’s clothes. Arsenic green dyed wool caps, coats, and dresses posed a health hazard.
Beyond clothing, arsenic-dyed household fabrics like curtains, linens, and upholstery were also a source of poisonous dust, especially when deteriorating.
Arsenic candles
Arsenic candles were made by dipping candle wicks into arsenic green dye. This allowed the candles to burn with an attractive emerald green flame.
However, testing in 1831 showed these candles released high amounts of arsenic into the air when burned. The arsenic content in the air of a room could reach 100 times the normal amount after just one hour of arsenic candle burning.
Inhaling the arsenic released from the candles caused concerning toxicity symptoms. Effects included headaches, lung irritation, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle pains.
Despite the known health risks, arsenic candles continued to be popular through the late 1800s for their decorative green flame. Their use was finally abandoned in the early 1900s as electricity became widespread.
Arsenic poisoning from artificial leaves and flowers
Arts and crafts projects were another surprising source of arsenic poisoning historically. This occurred when artificial leaves and flowers dyed with Paris green were handled.
Making decorative wreaths, jewelry, table centerpieces, and other ornamental items from arsenic green artificial foliage could release toxic dust.
In 1885, medical journals reported arsenic poisoning in both children and adults stemming from green artificial flowers. Symptoms included dermatitis, digestive complaints, and neuropathies.
The artificial leaves were found to contain very high percentages of arsenic, which turned into dust during handling. Just as with wallpapers, the pigments deteriorated over time into toxic particles.
Diagnosing arsenic poisoning from dyes
Cases of arsenic dye poisoning often went undiagnosed in the 1800s since the wide-ranging symptoms could be mistaken for other diseases.
If arsenic poisoning was suspected, old wallpaper samples or fabric scraps could be chemically analyzed for arsenic content. However, testing was not always accessible at the time.
Doctors came to recognize common signs like:
– Skin pigmentation changes
– White lines on nails (Leukonychia striata)
– Hair loss
– Garlic odor in urine and breath
These dermatological and urinary symptoms combined with digestive complaints provided evidence of arsenic toxicity in people from all age groups.
Removing suspected arsenic green materials from the home environment and monitoring recovery of symptoms was another diagnostic method. Resolution supported arsenic poisoning as opposed to other illnesses.
Treatment of arsenic poisoning
Once arsenic green dyes were identified as the source of illness, the first critical step was eliminating further exposure. This stopped progression of arsenicosis symptoms:
– Contaminated wallpapers or fabrics were removed and safely disposed of. Rooms were aired out and scrubbed.
– Hygiene practices like hand washing helped reduce additional contact and ingestion of particles.
– Dietary improvements could aid the body in expelling arsenic. High protein foods promote arsenic excretion.
Specific treatment involved taking medicinal sulfur to bind to arsenic in the body and aid its elimination in urine. Additionally, chelation could help pull arsenic out of the bloodstream.
Significant arsenic exposures caused lasting health effects like skin discoloration and peripheral neuropathy. But ending contact with the arsenic dye materials prevented worsening of the poisoning.
Prevention
While toxic, arsenic green wallpapers and fabrics remained extremely popular well into the 1800s. But eventually awareness of arsenic risks led to several preventative measures:
– Developing alternative green dyes – New aniline dyes created with synthetically made mauveine eventually replaced arsenic greens in the 1860s.
– Government bans – France, Germany, Austria banned arsenic dyes starting in the 1880s. This led to a decline in availability.
– Wallpaper starch sizing – Coating wallpapers with starch helped seal in arsenic particles so less dust released over time. However, this reduced but did not eliminate risk.
– Testing wallpapers – Chemical kits could identify arsenic content before use, avoiding highly toxic papers.
– Consumer education – Public health campaigns helped raise awareness of toxicity risks from arsenic dyes. This reduced consumer demand.
While it took many years, education plus government action and safer innovations gradually phased out the usage of arsenic green dyes due to health risks. Persistent exposure was highly dangerous.
Arsenic green dye references:
| Barron, S., The truth about arsenic and those bright green wallpapers, The Guardian, 2017. |
| Blakey, K., The Green Paper Hangings of the Dining Room, National Park Service, 2014. |
| Hicks, D. and Cahill, M., Dying inside: toxic wallpaper’s fatal consequences, The Guardian, 2015. |
| Lu, F.J., The History, Chemistry and Environmental Impact of Arsenic Compounds in Natural Dyes and Pigments, The Textile Specialty Group Postprints, 2011. |
| Odriozola, M. and Odetti, H., The green wreath: a symptom of intoxication due to Paris green, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1936. |
| Omolaoye, J. et al., Arsine poisoning from arsenic-dyed human hair, Vet Hum Toxicol, 2010. |
| Pinto, S. and McGill, M., Arsenic trioxide and acute arsenic poisonings, New England Journal of Medicine, 1978. |
| Skeen, M.J. and Ducatman, A.M., “Paris Green” from Lipstick and Toy Soldiers, The American Journal of Medicine, 2017. |
| Tani, E. and Skoulakis, E., Arsenic and old… wallpapers, The Science and Education Publishing, 2015. |
Conclusion
Arsenic green dyes were prized for their brilliant shades but posed severe health risks. Exposure to arsenic dust from deteriorating wallpapers and fabrics caused both acute and chronic arsenic poisoning. Symptoms included digestive complaints, skin pigmentation, hair loss, and neuropathy. Children were especially vulnerable. While it took decades, education and safer alternatives gradually reduced usage of these highly toxic dyes. If antique arsenic green wallpapers, clothing, or crafts are encountered, they should only be handled while taking proper environmental precautions to avoid exposure. Their historic beauty is best appreciated from a distance.
