<P> Lead - based paint was widely used in the United States, because of its durability . The United States banned the manufacture of lead - based house paint in 1978 due to health concerns . </P> <P> Lead has long been considered to be a harmful environmental pollutant . Cited cases of lead poisoning date back to the early 20th century . In the July 1904 edition of its monthly publication, paint manufacturer Sherwin - Williams reported the dangers of paint containing lead, noting that a French expert had deemed lead paint "poisonous in a large degree, both for the workmen and for the inhabitants of a house painted with lead colors ." </P>

When was lead paint banned for industrial use