It's also about the time that High Fructose Corn Syrup started to be shipped in bulk. HFCS-55 in particular became the dominant sweetener in soda sometime during the late 1970s.
The late 70s was also the introduction of video games and home computers. A general explosion of electronic devices has permeated almost everywhere.
Unleaded gas was introduced in 1974. What replaced lead as the antiknock agent?
Re. lead tetraethyl, unleaded gas has more benzene than leaded one as a side effect of the productive process, but the answer is more complicated. Benzene is only released in the environment when the engine is cold.
The "replacement" for lead tetraethyl is a combination of better valves, higher octane rating when gasoline is produced, and electronic control of spark plugs. There's some feedback between these too, for example improved burning of fuel and the introduction of catalytic converter lets you increase the octane rating without suffering increased pollution from benzene.
