Lead made Beethoven sick, but it didn't kill him: Study
German composer Ludwig van Beethoven was plagued by several diseases, the most tragic of them being his progressive hearing loss. He also suffered from liver diseases and gastrointestinal issues, before passing away in 1827 at 56, with the exact cause remaining a mystery. Now, a group of researchers have studied his hair and discovered that the strands contained high amounts of lead which possibly contributed to his ailments, but didn't cause his demise. The study was published in Clinical Chemistry.
Beethoven's authentic hair samples: A genomic investigation
The study refutes earlier claims that high levels of lead found in his lock of hair, known as the Ferdinand Hiller lock, were responsible for his early demise. The lead poisoning theory was further challenged when genomic investigations revealed that the Ferdinand Hiller lock likely belonged to a woman, not Beethoven. In a recent project to sequence Beethoven's genome, researchers authenticated several locks of his hair. Among these were two locks known as the Bermann and Halm-Thayer locks.
High lead concentrations in Beethoven's hair: A detailed analysis
The authenticated locks were analyzed by Dr. Nader Rifai, a professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School. The analysis revealed that the Bermann and Halm-Thayer locks contained lead concentrations approximately 64 and 95 times higher than normal hair's lead content, respectively. Using formulae developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was estimated that Beethoven's blood lead concentration would have been between 69-71µg/dL (micrograms per deciliter). This level is several times higher than normal for adults.
However, lead poisoning not the sole cause of Beethoven's death
Despite the high lead levels, they were not sufficient to have been the sole cause of Beethoven's death. The elevated lead concentration is connected with various gastrointestinal and renal ailments and hearing problems. "While the concentrations determined are not supportive of the notion that lead exposure caused Beethoven's death, it may have contributed to the documented ailments that plagued him most of his life," said Rifai. The researchers also studied arsenic and mercury in his hair.
The 'definitive causes' remain mysterious
The study also says, "Although the analysis revealed several significant genetic risk factors for liver disease and evidence of an infection with hepatitis B virus that may have contributed to his death, it did not shed light on the definitive causes of his deafness and gastrointestinal problems." "We believe this is an important piece of a complex puzzle and will enable historians, physicians, and scientists to better understand the medical history of the great composer."
Beethoven's genetic risk and future research
Recent genomic studies have discovered that Beethoven had a strong genetic risk for liver disease, which may have been exacerbated by his penchant for wine and a known infection with hepatitis B. By combining these genomic studies with analyses of Beethoven's hair, researchers hope to gain a more precise understanding of his disease risk and possible cause of death. Beethoven is a revered figure in Western classical music and his first symphony premiered in 1800!
