Preemie Births linked to Pesticides & Nitrates in Water?

[nosmokes]

and the evidence just continues to mount that there is no safe or correct way to poison our soil and our food. sooner or later this shit catches up with you and you hafta pay the piper.
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original-IUSM

May 7, 2007

Premature Births May be Linked to Seasonal Levels of Pesticides and Nitrates in Surface Water

INDIANAPOLIS — The growing premature birth rate in the United States appears to be strongly associated with increased use of pesticides and nitrates, according to work conducted by Paul Winchester, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He reports his findings May 7 at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting, a combined gathering of the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, the Ambulatory Pediatric Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Winchester and colleagues found that preterm birth rates peaked when pesticides and nitrates measurements in surface water were highest (April-July) and were lowest when nitrates and pesticides were lowest (Aug.-Sept.).

More than 27 million U.S. live births were studied from 1996-2002. Preterm births varied from a high of 12.03% in June to a low of 10.44% in September. The highest rate of prematurity occurred in May-June (11.91%) and the lowest for Aug-Sept (10.79%) regardless of maternal age, race, education, marital status, alcohol or cigarette use, or whether the mother was an urban, suburban or rural resident. Pesticide and nitrate levels in surface water were also highest in May-June and lowest in August –September, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

For the past four years, Dr. Winchester and colleagues have focused attention on the outcomes of pregnancy in Indiana and the United States in relation to environmental pesticides and nitrates in surface and drinking water. Last year at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting, Dr. Winchester reported that birth defects peak in Indiana and in the United States as a whole during April through July, the same months as pesticides and nitrates reach their maximum concentrations in surface water. This year's presentation expands upon that work.
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complete article here

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Is that correlation, or causation.

It specifically says regardless of rural, suburban, or urban.

Wouldn't rural mothers have more premature births, given they're exposed to far more pesticides?

[nosmokes]

2. not necessarily.

there's an awful lot of petro-chemical substances dumped on urban gardens and suburban lawns, not to mention indoors as insecticide as well.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. rural homes often draw from wells.

Whereas suburbs and cities have much better purification systems. Rural residents are routinely subject to higher pesticide levels. Particularly ag workers.

Btw, if you follow the link you provided, you'll see that this same guy correlated academic success with month of conception, LOL.

[glowing]

4. Is that supposed to discredit or excel this report?

During a scientific study you hypothsize... Do some research... Perform the experiment, and then use statistical analysis to find info... A correlation simply means that he found in his study that longer the gestation to 9mo, the more proficient they were in learning... I have not looked at his methods or his controls (seeing how environmental influences by parents and schooling and economic situation would impact the study). But in the end it makes sense... that if women are supposed to pop at 9mo.. that's the optimum gestation period... that the complete 9mo is desired. With modern medicine we have been able to imitate the womb as much as we can for preemies, but nothing compares to mom.

It is discouraging to hear these things...Our environment does affect our health. Unless you want to bring back DDT. Of course, some of these new Monsanto wizardry's are just as nauseous.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

5. Excel his report?

I've no idea what software he was using.