Shoe Polish May Have Cleaned Shoes but It Was Also Deadly
Victorian shoe shiners made a living polishing footwear with a bright, glossy finish. But their most popular polish contained nitrobenzene, a toxic chemical that gave the shoes shine—but poisoned the workers over time.
Frequent exposure to nitrobenzene caused dizziness, fainting, and even death. Many workers were unaware of the risk, sacrificing their health just to keep boots looking sharp.
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