A lead oil paint tube of emerald green produced by Winsor and Newton.

Invented in 1808, this synthetic green pigment was made using copper and arsenic. Despite its high toxicity, the colour was popular during the 19th century and used in wallpapers, fabrics, paintings and everyday objects. This led to the ill health and even deaths of many people who regularly came into contact with it.

Although the previous extensive use of this toxic colour fell out of fashion by the end of the century with the discovery of new safer green colourants, emerald green in paints was not banned until the 1960's.