Time of conception linked to birth defects in United States (Spring & Summer pesticide use?)

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-03/iu-toc033009.php

Public release date: 30-Mar-2009

Contact: Cindy Fox Aisen
[e-mail]
317-274-7722
Indiana University

Time of conception linked to birth defects in United States

INDIANAPOLIS – A study published in the April 2009 issue of the medical journal Acta Pædiatrica is the first to report that birth defect rates in the United States were highest for women conceiving in the spring and summer. The researchers also found that this period of increase risk correlated with increased levels of pesticides in surface water across the United States.

Studying all 30.1 million births which occurred in the U.S. between 1996 and 2002, the researchers found a strong association between the increased number of birth defects in children of women whose last menstrual period occurred in April, May, June or July and elevated levels of nitrates, atrazine and other pesticides in surface water during the same months. While many of these chemicals, including the herbicide atrazine which is banned in European countries but permitted in the U.S., are suspected to be harmful to the developing embryo, this is the first study to link their increased seasonal concentration in surface water with the peak in birth defects in infants conceived in the same months.

The correlation between the month of last menstrual period and higher rates of birth defects was statistically significant for half of the 22 categories of birth defects reported in a Centers for Disease Control database from 1996 to 2002 including spina bifida, cleft lip, clubfoot and Down's syndrome.

"Elevated concentrations of pesticides and other agrochemicals in surface water during April through July coincided with significantly higher risk of birth defects in live births conceived by women whose last menstrual period began in the same months. While our study didn't prove a cause and effect link, the fact that birth defects and pesticides in surface water peak during the same four months makes us suspect that the two are related," said Paul Winchester, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine professor of clinical pediatrics, the first author of the study.

…

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. The problem is that they only studied liberal women.

Because proper Christian family-values Republican women don't menstruate, they have their "monthly shame".

Republican women also are immune to pollutants and environmental hazards, because they don't believe they exist.

[hedgehog]

2. Now, someone go do a study of these same locations to check

out if there is a pattern to the births of children who go on to develop autism! The data base may have to be restricted to agricultural areas, year round exposure to similar chemicals in industrial areas may mask any effect. I'm thinking of Silicon Valley, here.