Evidence of pre-industrial air pollution from the Heads of the Kings of Juda statues from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

Pollution originating from wood combustion characterised the urban atmosphe res of the past and led to the formation of thin grey crusts on the surface of the stone of monuments. The grey crusts discovered on the Heads of the Kings of Juda statues, which adorned the facade of Notre Dame in Paris from the 13th century until 1797, constitute a material record of the effects o f this ancient air pollution. The height at which the statues stood suggest s that the effect was not the result of a point phenomenon, but was caused by a generalised pollution of the Paris atmosphere at the time. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.