lead, Roman Empire

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 thick with lead, scientists found.
Ancient lead pollution may have lowered IQs across the Roman Empire
The new research adds context to a long-standing debate about the role lead pollution and poisoning may have played in the collapse of the Roman Empire. Some historians have argued that Roman elites and emperors who purportedly displayed odd,
Ancient Romans Breathed in Enough Lead to Lower Their IQs, Study Finds. Did That Toxin Contribute to the Empire’s Fall?
Using Arctic ice core samples, researchers estimate silver mining and smelting released enough lead during the Pax Romana to cause a 2.5- to 3-point drop in IQ
Lead Pollution May Have Lowered IQs in Ancient Rome, Study Finds
The mass production of silver coins in the Roman Empire had an unintended effect: spewing so much lead into the atmosphere that it may have lowered citizens’ IQs. The Roman Empire was more lead-coated than a Baby Boomer ’s childhood bedroom.
Widespread lead pollution in the Roman era made led to a drop in IQ across Europe, study suggests
"A 2 to 3 points lower IQ doesn't sound like much, but when you apply that to the entire European population, it's quite a lot."
Roman-Era Lead Pollution Linked to IQ Drop Across Europe
DRI scientists analyzed Arctic ice core records to reconstruct historical atmospheric lead pollution from Ancient Rome, uncovering a link between lead exposure and cognitive decline. Lead exposure is a significant public health concern,
Ancient Lead Poisoning May Have Contributed to the Roman Empire’s Downfall
Learn how researchers examined lead levels in ice cores dating back to the Roman Empire, and found concentrations high enough to affect IQs.
Lead pollution linked to lower IQs in Roman Empire: Study
Atmospheric lead pollution likely caused cognitive decline among citizens of the Roman Empire, according to research published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers analyzed ice core records for an approximately thousand-year period corresponding roughly with the period from the Roman Republic through the decline of the empire,
Lead Pollution Was Likely Widespread in the Roman Empire
Lead exposure is responsible for a range of human health impacts, with even relatively low levels impacting the cognitive development of children. DRI scientists have previously used atmospheric pollu
Lead Pollution Linked to IQ Decline in Roman-Era Europe
A study analyzing Arctic ice cores reveals that lead pollution during the Roman Empire's height contributed to an estimated 2-3 point IQ decline across Europe.
Sure, the Romans Were Smart. But They Could Have Been Smarter.
Exposure to lead from mining probably lowered I.Q. levels in the empire, research has found. It might be the world’s first ...
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It Fueled the Roman Empire —and Made Everyone Dumber
Ancient Romans weren't as bright as they might have been. According to a new study published Monday in the journal PNAS, the ...