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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
07:56
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Heavy metals in human bones in different historical epochs
M J Martínez-García1, J M Moreno, J Moreno-Clavel
1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Spain.
The Science of the Total Environment
|September 16, 2005
Summary
Lead and other metal concentrations in Cartagena
Area of Science:
- Paleometallurgy
- Environmental Archaeology
- Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Investigating historical metal exposure in human bone remains provides insights into past environmental conditions and human health.
- Bone tissue acts as a long-term archive for trace elements, reflecting cumulative exposure over an individual's lifetime.
Observation:
- Metal concentrations (lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, iron) were analyzed in skeletal remains from various historical periods in Cartagena.
- Lead levels in Cartagena's ancient bone samples exceed those reported globally, suggesting significant local sources.
- Metal concentrations generally increased from the Neolithic period through the Roman and Byzantine eras, with specific peaks for lead, copper, and iron in later periods.
Findings:
- Lead, copper, and cadmium levels were determined using anodic stripping voltammetry or atomic absorption spectroscopy.
- Zinc and iron were quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy.
- Correlation analysis suggests atmospheric aerosols and dietary intake as primary sources for the studied metals.
- Neolithic samples showed the lowest metal concentrations, comparable to modern samples for lead, copper, cadmium, and iron.
- Zinc concentrations exhibited a consistent increasing trend across historical periods, while cadmium showed a decreasing trend.
Implications:
- The elevated lead levels in Cartagena's historical populations highlight potential environmental contamination and associated health risks.
- Understanding historical metal exposure patterns can inform current environmental policies and public health strategies.
- The distinct temporal trends for different metals underscore the dynamic nature of environmental pollution and human interaction with metals over time.
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