title: Lead in ancient Rome's city waters.
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.
authors.affiliation: Université Lumière Lyon 2, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-Unité Mixte de Recherche (CNRS UMR) 5600, 69676 Bron, France.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Delile
authors.forename: Janne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blichert-Toft
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Goiran
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keay
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Albarède
mesh_terms: D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000266:history*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012384:Rome; D012498:Sanitary Engineering / Q000266:history; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000266:history*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000266:history
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D007854:Lead
keywords: Late Holocene; harbor geoarcheology; ore provenance; paleopollution; sedimentology
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