Dirt disease

1995/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

The problem of air pollution is not a problem that is limited to the last decades. Archaeologists Charlotte Roberts and Mary Lewis of Bradford University have shown that air pollution in the Middle Ages was quite harmful. To do this, researchers have studied more than 2,000 bodies buried in cemeteries in several villages in the medieval region of York and have concluded that 60% of the population suffered sinusitis due to pollution caused by industries in the region.

They also wanted to demonstrate the relationship between the profession and the disease, for which they have investigated the industrial and agricultural areas. Although a high percentage of the population in both areas suffered sinusitis, the differences between them are notable. For example, 58% of the temperatures in the industrial zone were sinusitis. According to the researchers, the XIII. The coves that were built in the eighteenth century were especially harmful, since they emitted to the atmosphere numerous fumes and sulfur oxides (IV), which explains this high percentage.

On the other hand, the population of rural areas did not suffer pollution of industrial areas, but 40% of the population said they had sinusitis. When explaining the reason for this percentage, researchers consider coal used in households to be guilty. The study also shows that the number of men is higher than that of women. Both data have led researchers to consider it as a proven relationship between the profession and the disease. Finally, it should be noted that this is the first archaeological research that has been carried out to analyze the effects of the environment on health in both urban and rural areas.