Centuries-old cemetery helps scientists link climate shocks to Industrial Revolution disease
During England's Industrial Revolution, when the country's farming-based economy transformed into an industrial one between roughly 1760 and 1840, pollution, harsh working conditions, inadequate housing and limited access to sunlight drove disease. Rickets, in which the growing skeleton fails to properly mineralize, was commonplace among children. Traditionally, urbanization, latitude and…
A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology examines how climate change during the Industrial Revolution may have contributed to widespread childhood rickets and tooth defects in northeast England. Researchers analyzed teeth from a centuries-old Quaker cemetery in North Shields, which operated between 1711 and 1829.
By examining mineralization failures in 30 teeth, they identified that most failures occurred in infancy and childhood, suggesting vitamin D deficiency. The timing of these failures aligned with periods of reduced UV exposure caused by the Little Ice Age, an extended cooling period linked to heightened volcanic and low solar activity.
The burial records revealed that 91 out of 109 individuals born within 10 years after a major volcanic eruption had higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. While factors like pollution, harsh working conditions, and inadequate housing also played a role, the study emphasizes that climate change should not be overlooked as a significant contributor to historical health issues.
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