QuestionsFranklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror)Why did 24 of 129 men die aboard Erebus and Terror before April 1848, when other Arctic expeditions lost few?Answer
Answer · Franklin expedition (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror)
Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.
Where it stands
DisputedTwo pieces of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- Lead in tissue formed during the voyage is markedly higher than in contemporary sailors.
- Lead rises over time, and is higher in men who died later.
- Lead isotopes match a source on board.
What would rule it out
- Lead levels in voyage-formed tissue no higher than in contemporary Royal Navy comparison samples.
Evidence 2 for · 1 against
FOR
FOR
The questions it answers
Most likelyScurvy and malnutrition, as the provisions lost their value, killed or weakened the crews
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews. [Answer ANS0D59K0B06ECJ]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D59K0B06ECJ
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0d59k0b06ecj,
title = {Lead from the solder of the tinned food, or from the ships' water systems, poisoned the crews.},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0D59K0B06ECJ},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D59K0B06ECJ}
}