Premature births may be linked to seasonal levels of pesticides and nitrates in surface water

The growing premature birth rate in the United States appears to be strongly associated with increased use of pesticides and nitrates, according to work conducted by Paul Winchester, M.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine. Preterm birth rates peaked when pesticides and nitrates measurements in surface water were highest -- April-July -- and were lowest when nitrates and pesticides were lowest -- August-September.
Indiana University School of Medicine