A study explores changes in Arctic lead pollution since the Middle Ages. Industrial lead emissions captured in Arctic ice can provide insight into historical changes in Europe's economy. To measure and analyze changes in Arctic lead pollution between 500 and 2010 CE, Joseph R. McConnell and colleagues examined 13 Arctic ice cores from Greenland and Severnaya Zemlya in Russia and used atmospheric transport and deposition modeling to track emissions sources. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, Arctic lead pollution primarily arose from European emissions and increased 250-fold to 300-fold from the early Middle Ages through the industrial peak of the 1970s. Increases in lead pollution in the ice cores coincided with periods of expansion in Europe, the advent of new technologies, and warm and often wet climate conditions. Decreases in lead pollution paralleled climate disruptions, wars, plagues, and famines. Since the passage of pollution abatement policies, including the 1970 Clean Air Act in the United States, lead pollution in Arctic ice has declined more than 80%, but lead levels are still around 60 times higher currently than in the beginning of the Middle Ages, according to the authors.
Article #19-04515: "Pervasive Arctic lead pollution suggests substantial growth in medieval silver production modulated by plague, climate, and conflict," by Joseph R. McConnell et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Joseph R. McConnell, Nevada System of Higher Education, Reno, NV; tel: 775-673-7348; email: joe.mcconnell@dri.edu
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences