A popular pesticide, atrazine, is making news again. The crop pesticide was discussed in a study scheduled to be presented at the annual meeting for the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s (SMFM), The Pregnancy Meeting ™, in Chicago, said Science Daily. The findings are expected to detail a link between atrazine and gastroschisis, a birth defect, said Science Daily.
Science Daily explained that gastroschisis is an “inherited congenital abdominal wall defect” that generally occurs in the intestines, but can occur in other organs, explained Science Daily. The organ typically develops outside the fetus’ abdomen and through an opening in the abdominal wall. Gastroschisis is increasing in prevalence, showing a two-to-four-fold increase in the past three decades, said Science Daily. The team, at the University of Washington in Seattle, was advised of the increase in the eastern portion of the state of Washington, which led them to hypothesize that there could be a link to that area’s environment, said Science Daily. More Study Finds Link Between Atrizine, Birth Defect

