Neanderthals were more susceptible to lead poisoning than humans — which helped us gain an advantage over our cousins, scientists say

A recreation of a Neanderthal woman.

Humans and our ancestors have been exposed to lead for up to 2 million years, researchers have discovered — overturning the belief that lead poisoning is a relatively modern phenomenon.

What's more, widespread exposure to the toxic metal may have affected the evolution of our species' communication abilities. This would have given Homo sapiens a key advantage over our cousins, the Neanderthals, who were more susceptible to lead's toxic effects, the study suggests.