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BIRTH MALFORMATIONS AND OTHER ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN FOUR U.S. WHEAT PRODUCING STATES: RESPONSE
Citation:
Schreinemachers, D M. BIRTH MALFORMATIONS AND OTHER ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN FOUR U.S. WHEAT PRODUCING STATES: RESPONSE. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 111(9):1259-1264, (2003).
Impact/Purpose:
To investigate rates of adverse birth outcomes in rural, agricultural counties associated with use of Chlorophenoxy herbicides
Description:
Chlorophenoxy herbicides are widely used in the U.S. and Western Europe for broadleaf weed control in grain farming and park maintenance. Most of the spring and durum wheat produced in the U.S. is grown in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, with over 85% of the acreage treated with chlorophenoxy herbicides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). Rates of adverse birth outcomes in rural, agricultural counties of these states during 1995-1997 were studied by comparing counties with a high proportion of wheat acreage to those with a lower proportion. Information routinely collected and made available by Federal Agencies was used for this ecologic study. Significant increases of birth malformations were observed for the circulatory/respiratory category for combined genders [odds ratio (OR) = 1.65; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.07-2.55]. A stronger effect was observed for the subcategory, which excluded heart malformations (OR = 2.03; 95% CI, 1.14-3.59). In addition, infants conceived during April-June, time of herbicide application, had an increased chance of being diagnosed with circulatory/respiratory excluding heart malformations compared to births conceived during other months of the year (OR = 1.75; 95% CI, 1.09-2.80). Musculoskeletal / integumental anomalies were increased for combined genders in the high-wheat counties (OR = 1.50, 95% CI, 1.06-2.12). Infant death from congenital anomalies was significantly increased in high-wheat counties for males (OR = 2.66, 95% CI, 1.52-4.65), but not for females (OR = 0.48, 95% CI, 0.20-1.15). These results are especially of concern because of widespread use of chlorophenoxy herbicides.