With the rate of premature baby-births in the United States growing alarmingly, researchers got into tracking the reasons for the growth. Besides, fertility treatments and multiple pregnancies, scientists discovered another astounding factor hugely responsible for the increase in early births — pesticides and nitrates! A study found that an increased use of pesticides and nitrates in surface water peaks preterm birth rates, which is considerably low when their concentrations are the lowest. Thanks to Paul Winchester, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine for getting into this "ignored" root leading to increase in premature births in the United States. It has been found that irrespective of maternal age, race, education, marital status, alcohol or cigarette use, or whether the mother was an urban, suburban or rural resident, the rate of ‘pre-maturity’ is highest from May to June i.e. 11.91 percent, and the lowest from August to September, i.e. 10.79 percent. And, this eventually tallies with the pesticide and nitrate levels in surface water. This is found by the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr Winchester, who is also director of Newborn Intensive Care Services at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis said, A growing body of evidence suggests that the consequence of prenatal exposure to pesticides and nitrates as well as to other environmental contaminants is detrimental to many outcomes of pregnancy. As a neonatologist, I am seeing a growing number of birth defects, and preterm births, and I think we need to face up to environmental causes. Preterm births in the United States vary month to month in a recurrent and seasonal manner. Pesticides and nitrates similarly vary seasonally in surface water throughout the U.S. Nitrates and pesticides can disrupt endocrine hormones and nitric oxide pathways in the developing fetus. This finding reveals the magnitude of what our environmental hazards can leave for our future generations. So, act now or face the shocking consequences reflected directly on our progenies. Photo: smh.com.au