[Nat Turner]

In a previous study, human remains from the Herculaneum disaster have confirmed that many Romans suffered from head lice, lung ailments due to air pollution, and bone disorders linked to slave labor, as well as numerous diseases and nutritional deficits

I wonder how you can have massive air pollution without FACTORIES LOL

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Dirt floors, perhaps?

[Pyro7480]

The Romans smelted huge amounts of lead, which lead to a good amount of air pollution. Cores taken from glaciers in Greenland found particles from these smelting facilities.

[r9etb]

I wonder how you can have massive air pollution without FACTORIES LOL

Cooking fires. And IIRC, the chimney hadn't been invented yet.

[TC Rider]

I wonder how you can have massive air pollution without FACTORIES LOL

There had to be foundries to forge all that cool armor and swords. Lead was used to line the aquaducts.

Tanneries were foul places. Additionally there must have been plenty of kilns to fire for production of tiles for roofs, aquaducts, ect, not to mention art, urns and vases.

Finally, we know the Romans loved their bathhouses, they had to be heated also.

Of course, most likely the biggest culprit was the SUC, Sport Utility Chariot.

[andy_card]

I wonder how you can have massive air pollution without FACTORIES LOL

Um, the Romans had factories. If I recall correctly, pollution from some of their lead smelters was so bad, traces of it can easily be detected in Arctic ice cores.

[Hemlock]

I wonder how you can have massive air pollution without FACTORIES LOL

Wood smoke. Next January, go to a suburb in any mountainous region within the U.S. Everyone thinks they're Daniel Boone and burns wood even when it's not that cold. The air stinks, it's difficult to breath, and your eyes sting.