Air Pollution and Birth Defects

An article featured in last week's ​The Globe and Mail​ ("Air pollution around conception tied to birth defects: study" by Lisa Rapaport) highlights the findings in a recent US study that women exposed to polluted air during the month right before or after they conceive may be more likely to have babies with birth defects. Researchers reviewed data for almost 290,000 infants born in Ohio from 2006 to 2010, cross-referencing the records with air pollution measurements near their mothers' homes. The researchers focused on PM2.5, and found a small but statistically significant increased risk of congenital birth defects.