We have been poisoning ourselves: has ice analysis revealed the truth about lead?

[Judi Lynn]

Exclusive: ice cores and records from the Black Death show lead entered the air from human activity – and scientists claim “natural background” levels are zero


Nicola Davis
@NicolaKSDavis
Tuesday 30 May 2017 15.00 EDT


Analysis of an ice cores taken from the Swiss Alps together with records dating from the time of the Black Death have revealed that there is no “natural” level of lead in the air, researchers have claimed.

Once in the body, lead is known to have harmful impacts on health, from behavioural to neurological, reproductive and cardiovascular effects.

With events such as volcanic eruptions releasing lead into the air, it was thought that even before industrial times there was a “natural background” level.

But now researchers say that level has been overestimated, finding that traces of lead trapped within the ice core fell to undetectable levels as the Black Death swept across medieval Europe, shutting down industry and killing more than a third of the continent’s population.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/30/we-have-been-poisoning-ourselves-has-ice-analysis-revealed-the-truth-about-lead

[hunter]

1. That's a terrifying explanation for the mad violent history of modern civilization.

[enough]

2. K&R. NT