Community Research

Often community members are the first to notice the signs of health effects from toxic exposures in their neighborhoods. Because a pregnancy may only last nine months or less, adverse pregnancy outcomes may be a sentinel for other toxic health effects that take longer to document. When birth defects are similar and happen more frequently than expected, it is called a birth defect cluster. Often clusters are dismissed as chance happenings, but birth defects don’t happen by chance. Every birth defect has a cause. Through the National Birth Defect Registry, we offer communities a scientifically valid tool to collect data on the reproductive outcomes in their community (or common exposure group) and investigate possible links to toxic exposures.

Birth Defect Patterns Detected through the National Birth Defect Registry

• Bendectin –This antinauseant medication was removed from the world market in 1982. Registry data have found patterns of increases in limb reduction defects, oral clefts and diaphragmatic hernias. These data are consistent with animal and human studies.
• Agent Orange – Registry data have found a consistent pattern of increases in immune, endocrine, skin, allergic and learning problems in the children of Vietnam veterans who served “in-country”. These data are consistent with research conducted and published on similar environmental exposures.
• Gulf War Birth Defects - Registry data found an increase in a cranial-facial birth defect called Goldenhar Syndrome in the children of veterans who served in the first Gulf War. A study published in Teratology by Dr. Maria Araneta, also found a tripling of Goldenhar cases in Gulf War veterans who had their children in military hospitals. BDRC is collaborating with the University of Texas, SW in a study that will include Goldenhar cases born in both military and civilian hospitals.
• Dickson, Tennessee - We have assisted the community of Dickson, Tennessee in identifying a cluster of cleft palate cases associated with a solvent (TCE) leaking into their water supply from an old landfill. The Center for Disease Control later confirmed this cluster.

• Joplin, Missouri –The United Steelworkers asked BDRC to review birth defect data from Joplin, MO. The incidence of birth defects in Joplin was higher than the county and the state of Missouri. BDRC’s review found that there were significant increases in certain categories of birth defects (especially Atrial Septal Defects of the heart).BDRC joined with the United Steelworkers and other children’s advocacy groups in asking the governor of Missouri to request further study.
• Alaska – The Alaska Community Action on Toxics asked BDRC to participate in a conference call with Dr. Ted Schettler, Alaska Native community representatives and others concerned about a report from the health department that birth defects in Alaska were double the rate of other states. There was also an increase in certain birth defects in Alaska Native communities near open waste dumps. One problem identified during the call was that Alaska has required reporting of birth defects by health care facilities and providers for children up to age six. Birth defect reporting systems that have required monitoring out to six years will usually show double the rate of birth defects found in systems that use hospital discharge data. Despite this, there was a four-fold increase in the rate of other congenital defects in infants born to Alaska Native mothers residing in villages with high hazard dumpsite contents.

If you are concerned about increases in birth defects and developmental disabilities in your communities, contact staff@birthdefects.org.