Pollution from copper factories in Cornwall, England depicted in engraving from 'History of England' by Rollins, 1887. Photo by Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images Credit: Leemage / Corbis via Getty Images

The Industrial Revolution overturned centuries of English agrarian life, but the rapid societal transformation came at steep costs to the laborers themselves. Miserable working conditions, poor housing, and pollution all contributed to health problems among factory employees as well as their families. Meanwhile, children faced countless diseases like rickets, which prevents developing skeletons from adequately mineralizing.

However, a recent investigation into a 19th century Quaker cemetery in northeast England indicates the Industrial Revolution wasn’t the sole culprit behind this rickets endemic.…