Birth Defects Linked to Coal, Pesticides

Pregnant women exposed to coal and pesticides are up to four times more likely to have children with serious birth defects than women not exposed to those chemicals, a recent Chinese study found. Researchers detected high levels of synthetic pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that come from inhaling smoke from burning coal in the placentas of women with birth defects. The study’s findings were published on Tuesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers looked at 80 babies and aborted fetuses with brain and spinal defects and found that their mothers’ placentas had significantly more chemicals compared to the placentas of babies without birth defects.

Women whose placentas had higher than average levels of the PAH chemicals from burning coal were 4.5 times more likely to have babies with defects, while those with more than average levels of pesticides were around 3 times more likely to have babies with defects, the researchers found.

The researchers cautioned that pregnant women should avoid coal smoke, use cleaner fuels for heating and cooking, and avoid second-hand smoke.

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