What is Prussian Blue?
Prussian blue is a pigment which has been manufactured since 1704, when Heinrich Diesbach discovered it almost by accident in Berlin, which was then located in Prussia. This pigment is incredibly colorfast, and it was the first truly artificially created pigment to reach the market. The deep blue tone and colorfastness of Prussian blue rapidly made it immensely popular in Europe and beyond, and it continues to be used today. There are other uses for Prussian blue as well, ranging from laundry bluing to treatment of people who have been exposed to certain radioactive elements. Pure Prussian blue is a very deep, rich blue. It can be mixed with other pigments to create different shades, or used on its own. Painters, woodcutters, and textile artists all work with Prussian blue, and it was also historically used to manufacture blueprints. Many art supply stores stock Prussian blue, along with an assortment of related colors, like Chinese blue, which is a blend of Prussian blue and other pig
Prussian blue was originally developed as a dye for use in paints and ink. It is used in medicine to help speed up the body’s elimination of certain metals or chemical elements. It works by binding to the metals in the digestive tract to keep the body from absorbing them. Prussian blue is used to treat people who have been contaminated with radioactive cesium or thallium, or non-radioactive thallium. Prussian blue may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
