Work in brief
AGRICULTURAL WORK, PESTICIDES, AND ANENCEPHALY
The human health effects of most pesticides are not well defined, despite extensive study. In new research from Mexico, Lacasaña and colleagues1 investigate the association of anencephaly with agricultural work and exposure to pesticides. The authors identified cases from a population based registry, matched them to controls from the same hospitals, and assessed exposures by questionnaire. The risk of anencephaly was modestly elevated if the mother had ever done farm work, and pronounced increases in risk were seen when the mother worked in agriculture in …
