Researchers have discovered lead contamination in Greek soil dating back 5,200 years, making it the oldest known evidence of human-caused lead pollution.
Christina Larson reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Sediment cores from Greece and the Aegean Sea show lead pollution from ancient smelting 1,200 years earlier than previously recorded.
- Pollution remained localized until around 2,150 years ago, when Roman rule increased silver smelting, boosting lead emissions.
- The findings provide a detailed picture of how lead contamination evolved in the region over time.
Key quote:
“Lead released from smelting is the world’s first form of toxic or industrial pollution.”
— Joseph Manning, Yale historian
Why this matters:
For centuries, lead has been recognized as a powerful neurotoxin, linked to developmental delays, cognitive impairment and a host of other health problems. But a new study suggests the timeline of industrial lead pollution stretches back much further than previously believed, underscoring the deep and enduring impact of metal production on the environment. Traces of lead linked to mining and smelting operations appear as early as the Bronze Age, revealing that early civilizations were already altering the planet’s ecosystems in ways that would reverberate for millennia.
Learn more: Roman mining pollution linked to lower IQ in ancient Europe
