It's a pity lead is so poisonous over time because white pigment made from lead is just superior for oil painting. Skin tones in particular glow in a way that just doesn't happen with other kinds of white. I bought a small quantity once from a local madman who claimed he made it from lead weights and horse manure and it was stunning stuff. Not worth the exposure risk in my opinion but the quality of the pigment was undeniable.
It can be safely used with proper precautions, but it's understandable why people shy away from it. Still, there is a huge difference between being "exposed" to lead paint from a piece of fine art vs living in a house whose entire inside is coated with the stuff and it's flaking off the walls.
