TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluating alcohol related birth defects in the past
T2 - skeletal and biochemical evidence from a colonial rum producing community in Barbados, West Indies
AU - Shuler, Kristrina A.
AU - Schroeder, Hannes
PY - 2013/12
Y1 - 2013/12
N2 - Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) are yet undocumented among past communities, although alcohol is the leading cause of non-heritable birth defects in the US today. We evaluate potential ARBD at Newton Plantation, Barbados (ca. 1660-1820), where earlier studies suggest frequent, community-wide consumption of lead-tainted rum by enslaved Africans. Skeletons excavated in 1997-1998 (n= 45) were examined for congenital anomalies, using clinical/experimental descriptions to differentially diagnose possible ARBD. Enamel lead data served as a proxy for developmental exposure to tainted rum in a subsample (n= 26). Elevated enamel lead (3.8. μg/g), vertebral synostosis, and micrognathism in one subadult fit expectations for exposure. An adult male with low enamel lead (0.3. μg/g) had congenital anomalies, but not those described with ethanol or lead exposures. Contrary to expectations, we did not identify ARBD in most individuals, including those with isotopic signatures of Barbadian origin who also showed consistently elevated dental lead levels. We discuss how such patterns may have emerged from timing of exposures and colonial medical practices, but underreporting remains a likely concern with ARBD, past and present. Ours is the first attempt to explore developmental signatures of alcohol use archeologically. We report the first possible case of ARBD from a past community.
AB - Alcohol Related Birth Defects (ARBD) are yet undocumented among past communities, although alcohol is the leading cause of non-heritable birth defects in the US today. We evaluate potential ARBD at Newton Plantation, Barbados (ca. 1660-1820), where earlier studies suggest frequent, community-wide consumption of lead-tainted rum by enslaved Africans. Skeletons excavated in 1997-1998 (n= 45) were examined for congenital anomalies, using clinical/experimental descriptions to differentially diagnose possible ARBD. Enamel lead data served as a proxy for developmental exposure to tainted rum in a subsample (n= 26). Elevated enamel lead (3.8. μg/g), vertebral synostosis, and micrognathism in one subadult fit expectations for exposure. An adult male with low enamel lead (0.3. μg/g) had congenital anomalies, but not those described with ethanol or lead exposures. Contrary to expectations, we did not identify ARBD in most individuals, including those with isotopic signatures of Barbadian origin who also showed consistently elevated dental lead levels. We discuss how such patterns may have emerged from timing of exposures and colonial medical practices, but underreporting remains a likely concern with ARBD, past and present. Ours is the first attempt to explore developmental signatures of alcohol use archeologically. We report the first possible case of ARBD from a past community.
KW - Congenital
KW - Ethanol
KW - Fetal alcohol syndrome
KW - Klippel-Feil
KW - Slavery
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.08.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ijpp.2013.08.005
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:84888432224
SN - 1879-9817
VL - 3
SP - 235
EP - 242
JO - International Journal of Paleopathology
JF - International Journal of Paleopathology
IS - 4
ER -
