AIRPORT NOISE AND TERATOGENESIS

It has been suggested that exposure to highnoise levels near major anrpoJ:ts may cause:increased incidence of birth defects in the offspring of parents residing near these airports. Using data gathered in Metropolitan Atlanta during 1970 to 1972, we compared the rates of seventeen categories of defects in high- and iow-noise census tracts. No significan differences were observed. However, when we subdivided the category of central nervous system defects into several subcategories of specific defects, we noted a significantly increased incidence of spina bifida without hydrocephalus in the hi.gh-noise areas. Because of the small number of cases associated with this finding we did a matched case-control study using al.l cases of central nervous system defects born during the years 1968 to 1976. No significantly increased risk for resi.dents in the high-noise areas was noted in this study. It is our opinion that noise or other factors associated with residence near airports are unlikely to be important environmental teratogens. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.