ABSTRACT
Telephone poles were coated with creosote, penta, and arsenicals—materials linked to a wide array of health problems including cancer and birth defects. Bakelite was an early plastic that contained asbestos fillers, which were handled openly and potentially inhaled before workers understood the health risks. On the occasion that a material presumed to be safe is actually toxic, industry has often proceeded to find replacement materials, sometimes with a strong push from safety activists. Ensure that materials used in products are non-toxic, and will not leach, outgas, or otherwise break down in a harmful manner over the life span of the product. With so many molecules and compounds going into various types of consumer and industrial products, designers face quite the challenge to understand the risks. The best bet is for designers to remain aware of materials suspected of ill health effects and select those considered safer.
