[sammyg2]

There are several reasons that moonshine was dangerous:
Sopme folks used old radiators as condensors, and they had lead solder in them. The lead would leach out and cause damage to the central nervous system and liver.
Some moonshiners used lead solder to join the copper pipes and equipment. Some moonshiners cut their product with glycol as mentioned, but also sometimes mixed in methanol (wood alcohol) which is extemely toxic and attacks the optic nerve, among many other things. all of which are very bad.