Herbicide Cuasing Specific Birth Defect

A recent study at Vanderbilt University and published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has linked atrazine, the second-most used herbicide in the United States, exposure and a specific birth defect gastroschisis, a condition where a baby’s intestines, and at times other organs, extend through a hole next to the belly button.

Atrazine has been banned by over 40 countries, including the European Union, due to negative effects on human health. Still, it remains one of the most common herbicides used today in the United States.

Atrazine controls roadside weeds and weeds in cornfields, but it is also applied to sorghum, sugarcane, cotton, soybeans, canola, and other row crops.

Atrazine is known to affect the reproductive system and disrupt the nerve and hormone systems, affecting the brain, behavior, and hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and dopamine. Short-term exposure during crop season through drinking water or direct application can pose health risks to expectant mothers including risks of fetal development and lower birth weight.

We are currently looking at cases involving Atrazine exposure and its effect on potential clients. If you or someone you know has been adversely affected by Atrazine exposure, call our office to discuss options and what we can do to assist.