Apart from its name, this dangerous compound was also known in the past by other names, including sugar of lead and salt of Saturn by the ancients, and Goulard’s powder from the 18th century.Īlthough lead(II) acetate is detrimental to human health, it was widely used by the ancient Romans as a form of artificial sweetener, especially in wines. Lead(II) acetate (Pb(CH3COO)2) is a toxic chemical compound, as it contains lead, that has a sweetish taste. Could it have come from the metal in their weapons, pipes, or jewelry? Or maybe the lead was directly ingested…Įxotic Goods and Foreign Luxuries: The Ancient Roman Marketplace Institute for Occupational Health and Safety states that 5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of adult blood indicates that the blood has become toxic – the researchers found an average of 14.4 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood in the thigh bones they studied.įorbes says that the findings suggest “more than half of the population” in Roman-era London were dealing with issues caused by lead poisoning. New Evidence for High Levels of Lead in Roman BonesĪ new study shows that extremely high levels of lead have been found in the bones of 30 people who lived in Londinium (today’s London) during the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. Some scholars even say that it was lead poisoning that caused the famous empire to fall. How far did ancient people go to enhance the flavor of their food and drinks? Would they consume toxic substances if it made things a little more appetizing? The Romans did, by adding a sweet version of lead to a beloved beverage.
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