The level of biologic lead (expressed as the ratio of Pb-to-Ca) in bones of Peruvians buried 1600 years ago was 3 x 10^-8, as compared to 2100-3500 x 10^-8 in the bones of present-day residents of England and the US. The ratio of Ba-to-Ca was 2-3 x 10^-6 in bones of ancient Peruvians and present-day Americans. Ba and lead have similar morphological distributions in organisms, so this discrepancy for Pb must result from overexposure of present-day people to industrial Pb and not from natural variations. -- AATA