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[SimRobert2001]

The reason lead was used by the romans is because its common and easy to mine.  Once mined, it melts a very low temperature, making it easy to work with.

[Mr Frog]

Come to think of it, I think the main symptom of heavy metal poisoning is brain damage, which honestly wouldn't affect dwarves in the slightest.

[beorn080]

I don't think lead poisoning will be a serious issue until the leading cause of dwarf death stops being

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ustxu Iceraped the Frigid Crystal of Slaughter was a glacier titan. It was the only one of its kind. A gigantic feathered carp composed of crystal glass. It has five mouths full of treacherous teeth, enormous clear wings, and ferocious blue eyes. Beware its icy breath! Ustxu was associated with oceans, glaciers, boats, and murder.

and related things.

You have a Crystal Glass Carp, which references one of the most insane forts ever? That there is worthy of a sig.

But yeah. Lead is common in pretty much everything up till pretty recent. One of the latest theories is that Beethoven lost his hearing due to a favorite mug.

[dragon0421]

Here's some of the symptoms of lead poisoning according to Mayo Clinic:

    * Muscular weakness - Dwarves can only carry one thing at a time
    * Headache - Constantly complaining about noise
    * Abdominal pain - The true cause of cave adaption is lead poisoning
    * Memory loss - Forgetting that they'll trap themselves behind constructions
    * Mood disorders - Strange moods
    * Reduced sperm count, abnormal sperm - Dwarves adapted to reproduce by spores
    * Miscarriage or premature birth in pregnant women - Some dwarven women pop them out every season
    * Fatigue - In the past the military would sleep through invasions, and most recently dwarves can die from lack of sleep

[Nikov]

Some learned Romans new lead wasn't a good idea. Caesar's chief architect said 'You know, we mix vinegar with lead for paint base. We probably shouldn't be drinking from lead pipes'. IIRC, Caesar mandated terra cotta pipes during his reign.

[sethwick]

I don't think lead poisoning will be a serious issue until the leading cause of dwarf death stops being

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Ustxu Iceraped the Frigid Crystal of Slaughter was a glacier titan. It was the only one of its kind. A gigantic feathered carp composed of crystal glass. It has five mouths full of treacherous teeth, enormous clear wings, and ferocious blue eyes. Beware its icy breath! Ustxu was associated with oceans, glaciers, boats, and murder.

and related things.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Carp, why'd it have to be carp?!

[eviscerator]

Yeah, I always mine lead for my goblet industry.  The elves buy 'em like they're going out of style.

[Awayfarer]

The elves buy 'em like they're going out of style.

The elves or the mugs? 

[The Architect]

Lead is also incredibly toxic, especially when it comes into contact with water, -especially- when someone actually drinks the water.

No, it's not. That's an urban myth; it's mildly toxic. It takes large amounts directly absorbed to do significant damage. You don't get lead poisoning from licking lead paint; you get it from eating chips of it over a period of time. Drinking out of lead goblets and lead-lined aqueducts would indeed cause brain damage over time, and probably did.

Such is the case with most heavy metals. An example of a more toxic one would be Arsenic, which is more along the lines of "incredibly toxic".