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Lead Pollution In Ancient Rome May Have Caused Cognitive Decline, Study Finds

by Shreeya

A groundbreaking study reveals that toxic lead pollution in ancient Rome may have lowered the average Roman’s IQ by up to three points. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, the research amplifies ongoing discussions about the environmental and health impacts of the Roman Empire’s extensive use of lead, particularly in silver smelting and coinage production.

The study’s authors traced lead levels in Greenland ice cores, correlating them with key events in Roman history, especially the empire’s silver mining activities. Their findings suggest that lead pollution, linked to silver production in ancient Spain, may have had widespread consequences for the health and cognition of people across the empire.

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Lead, a potent neurotoxin, was pervasive in ancient Rome, from the lead-lined vessels used to sweeten wine to the plumbing systems that brought water to Roman cities. The new study builds on ice core data, showing that lead emissions from Roman silver smelters reached parts of Europe, including Greenland, where the pollution left a distinct trace in ice layers.

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Joe McConnell, a climate and environmental scientist at the Desert Research Institute, explained that the research offers a “clear example of industrial-scale pollution in ancient history.” For every ounce of silver produced by Roman smelters, an astounding 10,000 ounces of lead were released into the atmosphere, poisoning the air and possibly contributing to the empire’s eventual decline.

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“Human activities 2,000 years ago were already having continental-scale impacts on human health,” said McConnell, highlighting that the pollution levels found in the Greenland ice cores reflect the massive scale of Roman industrialization.

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The researchers also assessed the health effects of lead exposure in ancient Romans by comparing these findings with modern data. The results showed that Romans likely experienced lead exposure levels roughly twice as high as what American children face today. Though not directly linked to the infamous “decay” of Rome, the study suggests that widespread lead poisoning could have contributed to cognitive decline and even societal dysfunction during the empire’s later years.

Lead exposure in ancient Rome wasn’t limited to the atmosphere. Wine sweetened with lead, lead-based plumbing, and lead-adorned drinking cups further compounded the problem, leading to health issues ranging from learning disabilities to mental health disorders.

The study has reignited a long-standing debate about lead’s role in the collapse of the Roman Empire. While historians have long speculated that factors such as economic instability, climate shifts, and plagues played significant roles, the new findings suggest that lead poisoning could have been a hidden contributor to Rome’s decline.

Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a lead expert at Simon Fraser University, emphasized that the study only focuses on atmospheric lead, acknowledging that the actual health consequences for Romans may have been even more severe. “Lead was everywhere in ancient Rome,” Lanphear said. “Their estimates are likely an underestimate.”

Although the study focuses on ancient history, its findings have important implications for modern public health. Lead continues to pose significant risks to human health today, particularly in vulnerable populations. The study reinforces the need for ongoing efforts to reduce lead exposure and protect public health.

As the study’s authors note, Roman-era lead pollution serves as an early warning for the dangers of unchecked industrial activities and environmental degradation. In a world where pollution continues to impact global health, the lessons from ancient Rome are more relevant than ever.

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