Discovered : known to ancient civilisations Origin : The name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon ‘laedan’. The chemical symbol comes from the Latin ‘plumbum’, meaning lead. Description : This easily-worked metal has been used for pipes, pewter and paint since Roman times. It has also been used in lead glazes for pottery and, in this century, as an additive to raise the octane level of petrol. All these uses have now either been banned, replaced or discouraged as lead is known to be detrimental to health, particularly that of children. Daily intake of lead from all sources is about a tenth of a milli gramme, and the average human body stores about 120 milligrammes in the bones. Lead is still widely used for cable sheathing, car batteries, lead crystal, radiation protection and in some solders. Image : Alchemical symbol.