Pesticides and birth defects

Can when you conceive make a difference on your baby's health? Researchers seem to think so.

Recent research from an Indianapolis NICU director suggests that children conceived between April and July -- when pesticide use is higher -- are at a higher risk of birth defects such as spina bifida, cleft pallet and lip, and down syndrome. It's a scary thought that our children are impacted at such a young age!

Dr. Paul Winchester told NPR:

And so, in a sense, we like to ask this large question, because we now know some
things in rats and amphibians and alligators that these pesticides are in fact
changing them because of fetal exposure. And we don't have enough time to sort
this out before perhaps we could have harmed generations of children.

Want to learn more? Read or listen to the interview on NPR's Living on Earth.