Two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire hummed with activity. Roads stretched like arteries, connecting distant provinces.

Lead pollution likely dropped the average IQ in ancient Rome by 2.5 to 3 points, a study found. The research is based on an analysis of lead concentrations in ice cores extracted from Greenland.

Lead pollution in ancient Rome was so high that it dropped the population’s IQ by around 3 points, if not more.

Lead pollution likely led to widespread declines in IQ during the ancient Roman era, a study has found. The negative health effects of lead exposure in modernity have been widely recognized.

Lead isotopes allowed the research team to identify mining and smelting operations throughout Europe as the likely source of pollution during this period.

Roman Empire’s lead pollution was high enough to lower IQs, study says Silver fueled the rise of the Roman Empire. But the ancient process of mining and extracting silver was also making the air ...

The levels of atmospheric lead pollution documented in the study are less than the peak of global lead pollution reached in the 20th century, when leaded gasoline use was widespread.

Lead pollution likely caused widespread IQ declines in ancient Rome, new study finds Scientists used Arctic ice core records to reconstruct historic atmospheric lead pollution in Ancient Rome and ...

Lead pollution in ancient Rome was so high that it dropped the population’s IQ by around 3 points, if not more. Elites were exposed to lead through water pipes, cooking pots, bath tubs, cosmetics and ...

Lead isotopes allowed the research team to identify mining and smelting operations throughout Europe as the likely source of pollution during this period.

In ancient Rome, lead was widely used in glazed table wares, paints, cosmetics, and was intentionally ingested as well as being present in air pollution from mining and smelting.