Archeometric detection of mercury: A paleopharmacological case study of skeletal remains of a child with vitamin deficiencies (Rouen, France, late 18–19th centuries)
THOMANN, Aminte
Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives [Inrap]
Centre Michel de Boüard - Centre de recherches archéologiques et historiques anciennes et médiévales [CRAHAM]
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Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives [Inrap]
Centre Michel de Boüard - Centre de recherches archéologiques et historiques anciennes et médiévales [CRAHAM]
THOMANN, Aminte
Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives [Inrap]
Centre Michel de Boüard - Centre de recherches archéologiques et historiques anciennes et médiévales [CRAHAM]
< Leer menos
Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives [Inrap]
Centre Michel de Boüard - Centre de recherches archéologiques et historiques anciennes et médiévales [CRAHAM]
Idioma
en
Article de revue
Este ítem está publicado en
International Journal of Paleopathology. 2025, vol. 49, p. 29-36
Elsevier
Resumen en inglés
Objective: The French medico-historical literature reports the common use of mercury-based treatments until the mid-19th century. An exploratory paleopharmacological approach is presented for detecting mercury in a child’s ...Leer más >
Objective: The French medico-historical literature reports the common use of mercury-based treatments until the mid-19th century. An exploratory paleopharmacological approach is presented for detecting mercury in a child’s skeletal remains suffering from vitamin deficiencies. This aims to corroborate written sources and provide a way to better understand disease therapeutic management.Materials: This study focuses on a 3–4-year-old child showing signs of rickets and possible scurvy from “rue Thubeuf” cemetery (Rouen, late 18–19th centuries). Analysis was carried out on a thoracic vertebral body and the right second deciduous mandibular molar.Methods: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) provided mercury detection and quantification. Micro-CT analysis was implemented to detect the interglobular dentine potentially related to vitamin D deficiency.Results: The ED-XRF spectrum showed a mercury peak for the vertebra, none for the molar. The vertebra CV-AAS analysis revealed a high mercury rate of 9.373 mg/kg.Conclusions: The individual was likely exposed to high mercury levels originating from therapeutic treatment, potentially for vitamin deficiencies, in the last months of life. Significance: Paleopharmacological analysis is an important tool in the analysis of medical treatment in the past.Limitations: Soil analysis could contribute to improved knowledge of contamination sources. Further research: This approach should be expanded to more individuals to better assess the treatment frequency of vitamin deficiency diseases during industrialization.< Leer menos
Palabras clave en inglés
Health
Vitamin deficiencies
Industrialization
Micro-CT
Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence
Cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy
Orígen
Importado de HalCentros de investigación