Drinking-water herbicide exposure in Indiana and prevalence of small-for-gestational-age and preterm delivery

Abstract

Background: Atrazine and other corn herbicides are routinely detected in drinking water. Two studies on potential association of atrazine with small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and preterm birth prevalence found inconsistent results. Moreover, these studies did not control for individual-level potential confounders.

Objectives: Our retrospective cohort study evaluated whether atrazine in drinking water is associated with increased prevalence of SGA and preterm birth.

Methods: We developed atrazine concentration time series for 19 water systems in Indiana from 1993 to 2007 and selected all births (n = 24,154) based on geocoded mother's residences. Log-binomial models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) for SGA and preterm delivery in relation to atrazine concentrations during various periods of the pregnancy. Models controlled for maternal demographic characteristics, prenatal care and reproductive history, and behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, drug use).

Results: Atrazine in drinking water during the third trimester and the entire pregnancy was associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of SGA. Atrazine in drinking water > 0.1 microg/L during the third trimester resulted in a 17-19% increase in the prevalence of SGA compared with the control group (< 0.1 microg/L). Mean atrazine concentrations over the entire pregnancy > 0.644 microg/L were associated with higher SGA prevalence than in the control group (adjusted PR = 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.24). No significant association was found for preterm delivery.

Conclusions: We found that atrazine, and perhaps other co-occurring herbicides in drinking water, is associated with an increased prevalence of SGA, but not preterm delivery.

Keywords: atrazine; birth weight; epidemiology; herbicides; preterm birth.

Figure 1

Seasonal pattern of atrazine concentrations in finished drinking water in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, USA. Dots indicate mean, lines median, boxes the interquartile range (25th–75th percentiles), and error bars the 5th–95th percentiles.