Comments by "Steven Gill" (@stevengill1736) on "Disturbing Horrors Behind The Wizard of Oz That'll RUIN Your Childhood • EWU Story Time" video.

  1. Aluminum dust is no joke - it's sold as a paint additive (and used in pyrotechnics), but it's an extremely fine powder and is quite easy to inhale. While it might be irritating to mucous membranes, the main hazard would be inhalation, which could cause pulmonary edema in the short term and COPD chronically. In those days workplace safety was unheard of in most industries, and many actors, cameramen and other crew on Hollywood sets died in bizarre accidents. In the silent film days, emulsion was made from nitrocellulose, an extremely flammable plastic that was the cause of numerous fiery disasters. Luckily the crew of Wizard didn't have to contend with that, but there were enough other hazards for anyone to deal with! Add the powerful medications prescribed by doctors in those days and it's no surprise many succumbed.
    1