A new study finds that at some point during the reign of the Roman Empire, the IQ levels of people across Europe plummeted.. The decline in cognitive abilities was due to the huge emissions of lead produced by the metallurgical industry, due to which the empire was formed, writes The Guardian.

Increased mining and processing of iron ores led to a sharp spike in lead air pollution during the peak of the empire. Scientists believe that this reduced IQ levels by 2-3 points throughout the empire.

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" years ago and assess the potential health impacts of ancient Roman civilization. The results showed that anthropogenic pollution has caused widespread damage to human health for more than 2 thousand years.. years,"

Even though Roman doctors were aware of the dangers of lead, the metal was still widely used in water pipes, pots, and in medicines, cosmetics, and even children's toys.. Lead was also intentionally added to wine after the Romans discovered that it helped wine last longer and added a sweet taste..

Although lead poisoning through wine was most likely a problem among the upper echelons of Roman society, the rest of the population inhaled it through the air. It is noted that at that time lead was a by-product of gold and silver production.

To determine the level of lead pollution in the air, McConnell and team examined ice cores drilled in the Arctic.. These cores showed a time scale of atmospheric lead concentrations from 500 g. BC. 600 g each.

Next, scientists compiled a map of the distribution of lead throughout Europe.. The scientists then calculated how much of the neurotoxic metal the children might have accumulated and what impact it might have had on their IQ..

The data showed that average lead levels in children at the height of the Roman Empire could have risen by 2.4 micrograms per deciliter, which would have lowered their IQ levels by 2.5 to 3 points.. Thus, blood lead levels in children could reach 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.

Some historical data suggests that the Roman Empire had a population of more than 80 million people at its peak.. This means that about a quarter of the world's population may have been exposed to lead pollution caused by ore mining and smelting.. The consequences of such lead poisoning could be so serious that scientists do not rule out that this could have caused the fall of the Roman Empire.

“A 2.

5 to 3 point decline in IQ may not seem like much, but such a decline was observed across the entire population of the empire and persisted throughout the nearly 180 years of the Roman Peace,” McConnell concluded..

Recall that a monstrous volcanic eruption helped the rise of the Roman Empire. The eruption of an ancient volcano in Alaska led to famine and disease, which destroyed the Roman Republic and the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. In their place a new state grew up - the Roman Empire..