New Study Finds How Lead Poisoning Affected Ancient Romans

The presence of lead in things like gasoline and paint up until the 1970s presented a bevy of problems for Americans, not the least of which is a drop in IQ that studies have documented over the years. A new study by an international group of researchers found that lower IQs linked to lead exposure isn't a new phenomenon and actually dates back to the time of the ancient Romans. 

The study, published Jan. 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, examined ice samples...