In brief
Scientists discover that lead exposure during the Roman Empire, particularly from extensive silver mining, could have had negative health impacts, potentially lowering average IQ levels.
Around 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire was at its peak, celebrated for its advancements and prosperity. However, a new study suggests that a hidden threat loomed over this glory: lead pollution. Researchers find that the massive silver mining operations necessary for the empire's economy released significant amounts of lead into the air, detrimental to public health.During the Pax Romana, which lasted from 27 B.C. to A.D. 14, the empire expanded across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The minting of silver coins fueled commerce, but for every ounce of silver mined, about 10,000 ounces of lead were also produced, according to Joseph McConnell, a lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Lead exposure can severely impact human health. Deborah Cory-Slechta, a neurotoxicologist, emphasizes that there’s no safe level of lead. The researchers examined ice cores from Greenland and Russia and identified layers rich in lead, likely transported by air currents from Roman mining.In this first look at ancient industrial pollution, the lingering effects of lead on society’s health raise questions about what could have been if the empire had been aware of the hazards linked to its thriving economy.
