Well, seems lead in drinking water goes hand and hand with empires falling.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4843640/Roman...
Just remembered an ex gf worked in a museum. She said they used to dust taxidermist specimens with arsenic powder to prevent pests and decay. So a lot of display items are problematic. Toxic, irreplaceable, and you can't just throw them out either.