The history of human invention has an interesting section with ideas that were supposed to make things better but had surprising and sometimes terrible results. These are stories about smart people with big ideas who tried dangerous experiments that went horribly wrong. In their quest for progress, they ran into the hard facts of unexpected consequences. There are many examples in history of products that, despite the best goals of their makers, had effects that were far beyond what anyone could have imagined, and often in ways that were not desired.
Every year, over five trillion plastic bags are used, with less than three percent recycled. New things have altered our way of life, but not all of them have been beneficial. Some inventions made things worse! Either they were made improperly, or the science was incorrect. These failed inventions still cause problems today. Join us as we look at stories of great ideas that didn’t work out and how much they cost us.
1. Plastic bags
Forbes estimates that approximately five trillion plastic bags are used globally each year. Only a little fraction, less than 3%, is recycled. The majority of them are not properly disposed of, and a large portion wind up in the oceans. These bags threaten wildlife, particularly sea turtles, which mistake them for food.
Another major concern with plastic bags is that they take approximately 700 years to break down. Furthermore, they emit potentially cancer-causing substances into the environment. As a result, since their inception in 1965, plastic bags have remained one of the most difficult pollutants to address internationally.
2. DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
Initially heralded as a wonder insecticide, DDT was eventually discovered to cause major environmental damage and health dangers including cancer and reproductive problems in wildlife. DDT was banned after it had already caused severe ecological damage, including the near extinction of several bird species owing to eggshell thinning.
DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is still used in some parts of the world, but it is heavily restricted and regulated due to its environmental and health risks.
India is the world’s largest producer and user of DDT, accounting for around 84% of the total use between 2001 and 2014. DDT is commonly used for malaria prevention in several sub-Saharan African nations, including Mozambique and South Africa.
3. Nuclear Weapons
When nuclear weapons were first utilized in World War II, nations raced to produce more of them. The danger is that if they’re used, there’s no going back; a nuclear war might wipe out humanity. That is not the only concern. The few nuclear bombs that have been detonated thus far have already caused significant damage to the environment, the oceans, and many people’s lives.
4. Agent Orange
Agent Orange, an herbicide used during the Vietnam War, included dioxin, a highly toxic substance known to cause cancer, birth defects, and other major health consequences. Agent Orange use has had long-term health and environmental consequences in Vietnam, as well as among soldiers who have been exposed to it.
5. Cigarettes
People in America have been smoking tobacco since roughly 1400 BC, primarily in religious events. Tobacco was brought to Europe from America by the Spanish conquerors. It was originally smoked in pipes and was not widely used.
Cigarettes as we know them now were introduced in the nineteenth century, and smoking became a major issue. Following World War I, many individuals began smoking cigarettes, and advertisements even claimed they were beneficial to health. However, in the 1950s, researchers discovered that smoking cigarettes promotes lung cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cigarettes kill 7 million people each year. As a result, many countries impose harsh smoking bans.
6. Lead Paint
Lead-based paints, which are popular for their durability and brilliant colors, are extremely dangerous, particularly to youngsters, causing developmental difficulties and poisoning. Lead poisoning has caused serious health issues, prompting expensive lead abatement procedures in older houses and public buildings.
Most developed countries, including the United States, have outlawed lead-based paint for household use. In 1978, the United States outlawed the sale of lead-based paint for domestic use due to its harmful effects, particularly on children.
7. Chlorofluorocarbons
In the 1800s and early 1900s, refrigerators used hazardous chemicals such as ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and ether, which may catch fire or be toxic. In the 1930s, a scientist at General Motors named Thomas Midgely developed dichlorodifluoromethane, the first chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), to address the problem of dangerous chemicals.
But this resulted in a different problem. CFCs do not react easily, but when they enter the atmosphere, sunlight degrades them and releases chlorine.
8. Leaded petrol
In 1921, Thomas Midgely made leaded petrol to make car engines work better. People were concerned because they knew lead may be deadly. However, the inventors claimed that it was safe. But it was not. This petrol caused lead to spread throughout the air and soil. Many people fell ill with ailments such as cancer and heart difficulties. Children’s intelligence was harmed, and crime rates went up because of lead exposure.
9. PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid)
PFOA, which is used to make nonstick cookware and waterproof fabrics, is persistent in the environment and has been related to health risks such as cancer and thyroid disease. Contamination of water supplies and ecosystems has raised global health concerns and sparked legal conflicts over their use and disposal.
10. Opioid painkillers
In 1806, a German scientist named Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner created the first pure opioid, morphine. It changed how pain was treated and was very useful for treating injured soldiers in the American Civil War.
Opiates were once easy to obtain and marketed as non-addictive. However, toward the end of the century, people discovered they were dangerous. Even while police try to deter people from taking opioids, the problem persists.
11. Asbestos
Asbestos was not invented because it is naturally occurring. People were already mining asbestos in the Middle Ages, but its widespread use began in the 1800s. Asbestos was used in various aspects of building construction, including flooring, plumbing, roofing, and electrical insulation. However, it wasn’t until people started dying that we realized how toxic asbestos is.
Exposure to asbestos can cause a serious illness called asbestosis and is also linked to several cancers, including lung and colon cancer. Even though it is banned, asbestos is still a danger today as it is present in many old buildings.
