There's something Icky in this Photo

This is a drawer full of antique lead an zinc printing blocks. These types of blocks were commonly used in the printing of newspaper adds and business cards. As photographic printing technology advanced these acid etched and sometimes hand carved blocks were made obsolete. You can still find places that make them and use them, but for the most part these blocks have become collector items.

The icky thing in this photo isn't the big bug, it's the white medallion to the right of the bug. That is what lead looks like when it is degrading. It turns into a white crystalline powder that is very easily dispersed into the air.

Once air born it will contaminate every thing it touches. This not only includes other artifacts but people as well. It can be absorbed directly into your skin, through your eyes, mouth or breathed into your lungs. Lead poisoning is so scary that I recommend if you ever see white power on a metal object, stay away from it and have a professional come out and take the object away.