A recent study conducted at the University of Maryland found a relationship between exposure of expectant mothers to rodent poisons and herbicides and a certain birth defect affecting the development of infants' hearts. The birth defect caused by this exposure is the transposition of the great arteries(TGA).
Transposition of the great arteries causes the aorta and the pulmonary artery to swap functions. Transposition of the great arteries is correctable through surgery. The researchers stressed that a definitive link could not be established by this one study and that more research is needed. The scientists did find that when expectant mothers reported exposure to the rodent poisons and herbicides in the first trimester, when the fetal heart is developing, their infants were more likely to develop the rare birth defect.
The survey found that mothers who were exposed to rodent poison were almost 5 times as likely to have a child with transposition of the great arteries, and mothers who reported exposure to herbicides (lawn and weed killers) were 2.8 times more likely to have a baby afflicted with transposition of the great arteries. The researchers surveyed mothers of healthy babies and mothers of infants with this congenital birth defect regarding their lifestyles and exposure to pesticides and other chemicals.