Geochemical tales of individual lives in the industrial revolution: Untangling the impact of pollutant exposure in two English towns | Science Advances

England’s Industrial Revolution transformed natural environments. However, studies of this period are often limited to broad generalizations that neglect individuals’ lived experiences. Here, we explore industrialization’s impact at the individual scale by analyzing skeletal concentrations of pollutants (arsenic, barium, and lead) and evaluating biogenic versus diagenetic contributions. Analysis of the skeletal remains of 94 individuals from two 18th/19th century English towns, South Shields and Barton-upon-Humber, showed biogenic exposure to contaminants and variation in exposure by environment and biosocial identity. South Shields individuals showed higher concentrations of arsenic ( P < 0.001) and barium ( P = 0.013), while Barton-upon-Humber individuals showed higher concentrations of lead ( P = 0.020). Skeletal lead isotope ratios match geologic samples from throughout the United Kingdom, suggesting a wide network of anthropogenic lead consistent with widespread industrial activities. These findings reveal a spectrum of realities and lived experiences hidden between the dichotomy of rural versus urban industrial England.