To this day, no one knows exactly what prompted Ludwig van Beethoven’s early death from liver and renal problems. Yet, an additional letter addressed to the editor in the journal Clinical Chemistry disputes one common hypothesis. Beethoven was exposed to high levels lead — but not high enough to kill him.
Having suffered from a variety of health challenges throughout his life. Gastrointestinal problems, hearing loss, as well as liver and kidney ailments. High lead levels are frequently connected to all of these conditions, additional characteristics such as his infamous anger, memory lapses, and chronic clumsiness.
Scientists studied a strand of his hair in 2000 and discovered unusually high lead levels. Some assumed lead poisoning was to blame for the health problems and death. Yet, subsequent research revealed that the strand of hair belonged to a woman.
In 2023, six strands of his hair were verified as part of a groundbreaking investigation that revealed the composer’s genome. A team of scientific professionals headed by Harvard Medical School’s Nader Rifai, PhD has now conducted a toxin test on two of those locks. Rifai’s team used two distinct forms of mass spectrometry, an extremely precise testing technique, to detect lead in the locks.
Researchers discovered the fact that the locks of hair contains 64 times the usual quantity of lead. The scientists estimated high levels of lead in his blood at 69-71 µg/dL. This is a lot higher than the average adult blood lead level, but not sufficient to be deemed the sole cause of his death.
Clues of lead poisoning that lead to Beethoven’s deafness
Beethoven was clueless to both the clapping and his music. He remained with his back to the spectators, beating time. At that point, a soloist grabbed his jacket and spun around to observe the boisterous applause that he was unable to hear. It was yet another embarrassment for the Musicians who were embarrassed by his deafness since he began to lose his hearing in his thirties.
A small business made up of fans and professionals has discussed many hypotheses. Was it Paget’s bone disease that can impair hearing in the skull? Does irritable bowel syndrome contribute to his gastrointestinal issues? Or perhaps he had syphilis, pancreatitis, diabetes, or renal papillary necrosis, a kidney disease? After 200 years, a finding of harmful compounds found in Beethoven’s hair could finally answer the mystery.
This narrative started about a decade ago, when experts recognized that DNA testing had evolved enough to support an examination of the hair. Which was reported to have been plucked off his head by distressed followers as he died.
Kevin Brown, an Australian businessman with a fondness for Beethoven, possessed three of the locks and wished to honor a request after he died. Scientists investigated how he became so ill. Brown submitted two locks to a specialist facility at the Mayo Clinic, which has the necessary tools and competence to detect heavy metals.
The results of what was found in Beethoven’s hair that had lead poisoning
The result, said Paul Jannetto, the lab director, was stunning. One of the locks had 258 micrograms of lead per gram of hair and the other had 380 micrograms.
The typical level of lead in human hair usually is below 4 micrograms per gram. “It certainly indicates that he was subjected to significant levels of lead,” stated Jannetto. Beethoven’s hair also contained 13 times as much arsenic as is normal, as well as four times as much mercury. However, Professor Jannetto believes that the high levels of lead may have contributed to several of his problems.
Professor Jannetto, Brown, and Professor Meredith present their results in a letter sent to the journal of Clinical Chemistry. The investigation updates an article from the previous year, after identical scientists concluded he did not suffer lead poisoning. After extensive testing, they concluded that he had enough lead in his blood to explain his deafness and diseases.
David Eaton, a toxicologist and retired lecturer at the University of Washington stated that Beethoven’s gastrointestinal issues “are totally consistent with lead toxicity.” Regarding the deafness, he explained that excessive doses of lead influence the nerve system and might have lost his hearing.
Wine may be the cause that had Beethoven to have lead poisoning
Beethoven’s elevated levels of lead were most likely due to poor wine use. Lead, in the shape of lead acetate, sometimes known as “lead sugar,” tastes sweet. It was frequently used to improve the taste of low-quality wine during Beethoven’s lifetime.
Beethoven consumed huge amounts of wine, roughly one glass per day, and even more throughout his life. According to Professor Meredith, since he had developed an addiction to it In the final days until his death at the age of 56 in 1827, his friends offered him wine per spoonful. While he lay dying, his publisher handed him a dozen bottles of wine. Beethoven realized he would never be able to drink them. He muttered his final documented words, “Pity, pity too late!”
By Desmond Jackson
Sources:
NY Times : Locks of Beethoven’s Hair Offer New Clues to the Mystery of His Deafness
Newsweek : Scientists Reveal New Facts About the Death of Beethoven
Phys: New research confirms that Beethoven had lead poisoning—but it didn’t kill him
Featured Image Courtesy of Sven Wusch Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Lex McKee Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
