Last week I was asked by a Dutch popular science magazine (KIJK) to comment on the paper on Roman atmospheric lead pollution and IQ decline. I found several issues, only a few made it to the issue. So, for who is interested: my points are below: 1/5
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419630121
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2419630121
Comments
2. It is assumed that atmospheric lead that ends up in soils is readily taken up in the food chain. In many soils, however, lead is ~ stable. 3/5
3. Romans had much more direct inputs of lead, e.g. from tableware, crafts involving metal, glass and glaze and lead-based sweeteners (!).
4. IQ has a standard deviation of 15, so 3 points difference are hardly relevant. 4/5
/s. High atmospheric lead values persisted for c. 2 centuries (8 generations?) and dropped when things got bad. Effect rather than cause?
(Note: Some of these points were also raised by others). 5/5