Nitrate in drinking water and risk of birth defects: Findings from a cohort study of over one million births in Denmark.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A few studies have reported an increased risk of birth defects (BD) with maternal exposure to nitrate in drinking water. We examined this association in a large cohort study with well-characterized exposure.

Methods

Danish singletons liveborn to Danish-born parents from 1991-2013 were identified using civil and patient registries (n=1,018,914). Exposure to nitrate was estimated using a spatial model based on national data linked with individual addresses. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using logistic regression.

Findings

In total, 33,182 cases of BD were identified. Nitrate concentrations were generally well below US and EU standards. We observed an exposure-response relationship (p=0·004) between nitrate during

SUBMITTER: Stayner LT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8814759 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature