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Title:
Lead in ancient Rome's city waters
Authors:
Delile, Hugo; Blichert-Toft, Janne; Goiran, Jean-Philippe; Keay, Simon; Albarède, Francis
Affiliation:
AA(Université Lumière Lyon 2, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche (CNRS UMR) 5600, 69676 Bron, France; Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5276, 69007 Lyon, France), AB(Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5276, 69007 Lyon, France; Department of Earth Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005), AC(Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée, CNRS UMR 5133, 69365 Lyon Cedex 7, France), AD(Archeology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BF, Great Britain), AE(Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5276, 69007 Lyon, France; Department of Earth Science, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005)
Publication:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 111, Issue 18, 2014, pp.6594-6599
Publication Date:
05/2014
Origin:
CROSSREF; PNAS
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.1400097111
Bibliographic Code:
2014PNAS..111.6594D

Abstract

It is now universally accepted that utilization of lead for domestic purposes and water distribution presents a major health hazard. The ancient Roman world was unaware of these risks. How far the gigantic network of lead pipes used in ancient Rome compromised public health in the city is unknown. Lead isotopes in sediments from the harbor of Imperial Rome register the presence of a strong anthropogenic component during the beginning of the Common Era and the Early Middle Ages. They demonstrate that the lead pipes of the water distribution system increased Pb contents in drinking water of the capital city by up to two orders of magnitude over the natural background. The Pb isotope record shows that the discontinuities in the pollution of the Tiber by lead are intimately entwined with the major issues affecting Late Antique Rome and its water distribution system.
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