When radium was first discovered, its luminous green color inspired people to add it into beauty products and jewelry. It wasn't until much later that we realized that radium's harmful effects outweighed its visual benefits. Unfortunately, radium isn't the only pigment that historically seemed harmless or useful but turned out to be deadly. J. V. Maranto details history's deadliest colors. [Directed by Juan M. Urbina, narrated by Susan Zimmerman, music by Camilo Vega].

J. V. Maranto: History's deadliest colors

History's deadliest colors

Lead, once a sought-after pigment for its brilliant white, has notorious effects on health, from lead poisoning to blindness.

The allure of vibrant Scheele's and Paris Greens masked their deadly arsenic base, leading to widespread poisoning in the 18th century.

Uranium oxide's radiant reds and oranges in ceramics belied a radioactive threat, a fact only understood well into the 20th century.