The Summary Lead pollution likely dropped the average IQ in ancient Rome by 2.5 to 3 points, a study found. In ancient Rome, toxic lead was so pervasive in the air that it most likely dropped the average person’s IQ by 2.5 to 3 points, new research suggests. The study, published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, amplifies long-standing questions about what role, if any, lead pollution played in the empire’s downfall. “Roman-era lead pollution is the earliest unambiguous example of human impacts on the environment.”The story of the ancient pollution was buried in the Greenland ice sheet. Manning said it is important to remember that ancient Rome was a tough place to survive, with life expectancies around 25 to 30 years.

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Persons: ’ bloodstreams, ”, Joe McConnell, Joseph McConnell, ” McConnell, Jessi LeMay, McConnell, “, Bruce Lanphear, Julia Graphis, De Agostini, ” Lanphear, I’m, It’s, Joe Manning, Rome, Manning, It’d, ” Manning Organizations: National Academy of Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Simon Fraser University, Getty, Yale University Locations: Rome, Greenland, Europe, Reno , Nevada, Spain, Reno, Nev, United States, Iberia, Canada, Roman