“When I look at the beautiful region of the Pyrenees where I do my research, it’s hard to believe that an invisible danger is lurking, unnoticed by those who live here. I’m bringing it to light. Can man-made pollution from centuries of mining in these mountains still threaten the health of people today?

Why focus on something that happened 500 years ago? Because lead and mercury deposited long ago remain just as lethal now as they were then. My measurements reveal high levels of poisonous metals in the soil, fish, and water. How is this ancient leftover pollution moving from mountaintops into human water and food supplies? How many other places around the world are affected by legacy pollutants? What about