The month of conception is related to birth defects

A study published in the April 2009 issue of Acta Pædiatrica medical journal first stated that the incidence of birth defects in the United States is highest among women who conceive in the spring and season. summer.

The researchers also found that these two risk-increasing periods were associated with higher levels of pesticides in surface water in the United States.

Surveying 30.1 million births in the United States from 1996 to 2002, researchers found a strong association between the number of cases of birth defects in children with nitrate content, atrazine and other pesticides in surface water. Mothers of these babies had their last menstrual period in April, May, June and July. These figures also correspond to the time when the pesticide concentration increased in the country. Many of the chemicals, including herbicide atrazine, have been banned in European countries but are still allowed in the United States. These substances are thought to be harmful to developing embryos. And this is the first study to link seasonal high chemical concentrations in groundwater with an increase in cases of birth defects in the same time period.

The relationship between the last months of the menstrual period and the incidence of increased birth defects is statistically significant for half of the 22 categories of birth defects. This list was submitted in documents of Centers for Disease Control from 1996 to 2002, which included spina bifida, cleft lips, varicose veins and Dao syndrome.

Paul Winchester, professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and the first author of the study, said: 'Increased levels of pesticides and chemicals used for other agriculture in the surface since April. until June corresponds to a significantly higher risk of congenital defects in healthy children. Their mother also had her last period in the same months. Our study does not confirm any causal link, but the incidence of birth defects and drug levels except for long periods in surface water has increased over the last four months, making us suspect that they have relationship'.

A new study shows the highest incidence of birth defects in the United States among women who conceive in the spring and summer. (Photo: iStockphoto / Amanda Rohde)

Winchester is also a obstetrician in pediatric Riley, adding : 'Every 3 out of every 100 newborn babies in the United States have birth defects. This is also one of the leading causes of premature death. Interestingly, if our suspicion is correct, it is true that pesticides contribute to an increased risk of birth defects, we can reverse or alter factors that cause medical problems. dangerous to follow us all our life '.

The study is based on the findings of the US Geographic Survey, the US Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies on the variability of nitrate, atrazine and other pesticides in surface water in seasons. different.

James Lemons - professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine - Riley Hospital's director of neonatal and neonatal medicine - said: 'Dr. Winchester's observations have an extremely important role, because they raise questions about the harmful effects of chemicals commonly used on the health and condition of newborn babies. '

The co-authors of the study included Jordan Huskins, a student at Indiana University Medical School, and Dr. Jun Ying of the University of Cincinnati. The research was funded by the Neonatal Department, the Pediatrics Department of the University of Indian Medicine.

Refer:
Paul D Winchester, Jordan Huskins, Jun Ying.Agrichemicals in water surface and birth defects in the United States.Acta Paediatrica, 2009;98 (4): 664 DOI: 10.1111 / j.1651-2227.2008.01207.x