Birth defect cluster sparks investigation
“I felt really alone being at a hospital no one knew nothing. It was hard,” she said.
But a small article in the local newspaper about Indi set off a staggering chain of events.
Until Ms Summers and Ms McSkimming met they had no idea how similar their experiences were.
“Six other babies with gastroschisis all at once, all in the Mater Mothers,” Ms Summers said.
Risk factors
“It’s definitely really concerning. We don’t live in a highly populous area.”
“It’s essentially risen by a factor of 500 per cent over the last decade,” he said.
“It is a large increase and that is why there is interest in this particular anomaly.”
Pesticide link
Studies done by the manufacturer of Atrazine did not come to the same conclusions.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the regulator of pesticides.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-14/birth-defect-cluster-sparks-investigation/2715546