When Did They Stop Putting Lead In Pencils? - Our Pastimes

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When Did They Stop Putting Lead in Pencils? By: Rosalie King Updated September 15, 2017 Pencil image by Alla Chichkina from Fotolia.com By: Rosalie King Updated September 15, 2017 Share It Share Tweet Post Email Print Related

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The idea that lead was ever used in pencils is a myth that derives from the association with the stylus of Roman times being made of lead. The writing material in pencils is actually graphite.

Origins

A large granite deposit was discovered in Borrowdale, England, in 1564. The material was eventually referred to as "blacklead." Finding that it left a dark mark ideal for writing and drawing, the English found that the only drawback was that the material was brittle and soft and required a wooden holder.

Revolutionizing the Industry

In 1795, Jacques Conte patented a process of mixing powdered graphite with clay in a way that revolutionized the pencil industry. Not only did it reduce costs, but the concentration of clay allowed more control over the lightness or darkness of the graphite on paper.

Pencils in America

Charles Dunbar, Henry David Thoreau's brother-in-law, discovered a graphite deposit in New England, which resulted in the pencil industry being centralized near the graphite core. Eventually, Thoreau pencils were considered the finest in America.

Lead Concerns

Since pencils do not use lead, there is very little to be concerned regarding lead exposure. The only relevant concern may be the yellow paint used to color the outside of them. In The United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates that the lead used in paint be no more than ninety parts per million, which is well below the amount used in the lacquer to color pencils.

References

• Pencils: The Unleaded Pencil
• Pencils: Lead in Pencils

Writer Bio

Rosalie King began writing professionally in 2009. She is the author of "The Skin Underneath," a free ebook download, and is currently at work on "White Collar Ghetto." She studied clarinet in college, and has a Bachelor of Arts in music from the University of Tampa.

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