It is also possible that lead poisoning contributed to his death. Walsh presented the findings of the four-year chemical analysis at a press conference in Naperville. Not implicated in deafness Walsh doesn't think exposure to lead early in his life contributed to Beethoven's deafness. It's virtually certain that he was not exposed to the toxic metal as a young child. He was too brilliant for that.
Early exposure affects a child's mental ability and cognitive development.
In adults, it makes them sick. Lead poisoning could explain a lot of his complaints, his irritability and his gastrointestinal complaints. Donnenberg says that Beethoven suffered from abdominal pain, joint pain and headache, all classic signs of lead poisoning. But anemia is also a symptom of lead poisoning, and Beethoven was described as having a dark, swarthy complexion. Donnenberg says the toxic metal does not explain the composer's death.