Solar activity at birth predicted infant survival and women's fertility in historical Norway.

ABSTRACT: Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can suppress essential molecular and cellular mechanisms during early development in living organisms and variations in solar activity during early development may thus influence their health and reproduction. Although the ultimate consequences of UVR on aquatic organisms in early life are well known, similar studies on terrestrial vertebrates, including humans, have remained limited. Using data on temporal variation in sunspot numbers and individual-based demographic data (N = 8662 births) from Norway between 1676 and 1878, while controlling for maternal effects, socioeconomic status, cohort and ecology, we show that solar activity (total solar irradiance) at birth decreased the probability of survival to adulthood for both men and women. On average, the lifesp

SUBMITTER: Skjærvo GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4308994 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature