The Romans are credited with inventing concrete, aqueducts, and contributing to the modern calendar. However, a study suggests that their achievements could have been even more significant if not for the effects of lead poisoning on their population. The University of Oxford has determined that lead pollution may have caused a reduction in IQ levels by two to three points among Europeans.
Nathan Chellman, co-author of the study, emphasized the significance of this IQ decline on a widespread scale, despite it seeming minor on an individual level. The research focused on cognitive decline due to lead exposure, which is known to have various negative health impacts.
To assess the prevalence of lead pollution during the Roman era, researchers analyzed ice core samples dating from 500BC to 600AD. The study concentrated on the period known as the Pax Romana, a prosperous 200-year “golden age” from 27 BC to 180AD. Lead isotopes were examined to trace the metal back to its sources, primarily silver mining activities that released large amounts of lead into the atmosphere.
The study revealed a peak in lead pollution during the late 2nd century BCE, coinciding with the height of the Roman Republic, followed by a decline during the 1st century BCE and a subsequent increase with the rise of the Roman Empire. Lead pollution persisted until the Antonine Plague in the 2nd century CE, which significantly impacted the Roman Empire.
Despite historical peaks in lead pollution, the study highlights how industrial activities have long-lasting effects on human health. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science PNAS, sheds light on the repercussions of lead pollution throughout history.
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