BBC interview on the Fallujah Epidemic of Birth Defects

Fallujah Epidemic of Birth Defects

BBC interview on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EN6UcFAAeQ

An interview on BBC World Today, December 31, 2010.

It regards a new study published the same day, on the massive incidence of birth defects in Fallujah, Iraq, following the bombardment of the city in 2004.

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More news coverage of Fallujah birth defects epidemic

"War contamination could be causing deformities in Iraq:

"Unusually high rates of birth deformity in an Iraqi city at the centre of the biggest battle of the allied occupation may be due to war contamination, a new study has concluded."


By Richard Spencer, Middle East Correspondent
31 Dec 2010

THE TELEGRAPH (U.K.)

At: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/8234159/War-contamination-could-be-causing-deformities-in-Iraq.html


The city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, has had a notoriously high rate of birth defects and cancer diagnoses since American, British and Iraqi troops bombarded and then stormed the town during the Sunni insurgency in 2004.

In May of 2010 alone, 15 per cent of the 547 babies born had defects, while 14 per cent were spontaneous abortions and 11 per cent were born at less than 30 weeks.

The report, published online on Friday in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, outlines the cases of four families out of more than 50 being studied. All had children with defects which could not be accounted for by historic family causes but which could be explained by high levels of toxic metals in the environment.

In one family, three women – the two wives of one of the fathers and a daughter – all gave birth to children with different deformities.

"The high prevalence of birth defects in Fallujah is impairing the population's health and its capacity to care for the surviving children," the study said. "These defects could be due to environmental contaminants which are known components of modern weaponry."

The research and a forthcoming report by the World Health Organisation on the same issue will renew international attention on the siege of Fallujah, condemned by anti-war activists and human rights campaigners as an excessive response to insurgent activity. Thousands of alleged insurgents and civilians are said to have been killed. White phosphorous and depleted uranium shells are known to have been used in large numbers.

Depleted uranium in particular has been linked to high rates of cancer and birth defects.

"It is unclear whether its radiation-derived mutational effects or its chemical toxic effects are more relevant," the report notes.

Total deformities are said to be around 11 times the world average, and are rising. The report, the first carried out on births during 2010, said they were now at "unprecedented levels", suggesting that the longer adults are exposed to the residual contamination the more defective children will be born.

It says there is no definitive proof of which environmental hazards actually caused the deformities, and calls for more research in this area to identify families at high risk and begin the task of providing them with the necessary medical care.


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Additional news coverage:




"Iraq Study Links U.S. Weaponry to Birth Defects in Falluja, Guardian Says"

By Alan Purkiss
BLOOMBERG NEWS
Dec 31, 2010

At: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-31/iraq-study-links-u-s-weaponry-to-birth-defects-in-falluja-guardian-says.html



An abnormally high incidence of birth defects in Falluja, Iraq, way have been caused by weaponry used when U.S. forces assaulted the city six years ago, the Guardian reported, citing a study it’s reviewed.

The study, to be published next week in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, was conducted by Dr. Samira Abdul Ghani, a pediatrician at Falluja general hospital, the newspaper said.

It covered 55 families with seriously deformed new-born babies between May and August; in May, of the 547 babies born, 15 percent had chronic deformities, the Guardian said. In the same period, 11 percent of babies were born at less than 30 weeks and 14 percent of fetuses spontaneously aborted, it added.

While the findings are likely to reinforce previous speculation that defects have been caused by depleted uranium ammunition, used in two battles in Falluja in 2004, the report acknowledges that many war residues may interfere with normal embryonic and fetal development, the Guardian said.


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"Link Between Defects, Weaponry Possible?"


Friday, December 31, 2010
St. Louis Globe-Democrat (Missouri, U.S.A.)
From UPI news service


At: http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/dec/31/link-between-defects-weaponry-possible/



FALLUJAH, Iraq, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A rise in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Falluja could have been caused by weaponry used in U.S. assaults that took place six years ago, a report says.

The report, to be published next week in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, highlights a major rise in cancers and chronic neurological, cardiac and skeletal defects in newborns at close to 11 times higher than normal rates, The Guardian newspaper in London reported Friday.

The report focused on metals as potential contaminating agents afflicting the city, especially among pregnant mothers.

"Metals are involved in regulating genome stability," it says. "As environmental effectors, metals are potentially good candidates to cause birth defects."

There is speculation the defects are caused by depleted uranium rounds, heavily used in two large battles in the city in April and November 2004. Many military and militia forces use the rounds, containing ionising radiation.

However, scientists are split on the possible danger posed by the rounds, with some claiming they leave behind a toxic residue, while others say depleted uranium has been proven not to be a contaminant.

Other battlefield residues may also be responsible for the jump in defects, the report acknowledges.

"Many known war contaminants have the potential to interfere with normal embryonic and fetal development," it says.





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"US weapons suspected in Iraq birth defect cases"


by Martin Chulov, Baghdad
THE GUARDIAN (U.K.)


Published in THE AGE (Australia), at:


http://www.theage.com.au/world/us-weapons-suspected-in-iraq-birth-defect-cases-20101231-19byd.html?from=smh_ft

January 1, 2011



A STUDY examining the causes of a dramatic spike in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Fallujah has concluded that genetic damage could have been caused by weaponry used in US assaults six years ago....





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"Birth defects in Falluja could be linked to US weapons"

by Martin Chulov
THE GUARDIAN (U.K.)

Published in the BRISBANE TIMES (Australia)
January 1, 2011


At: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/birth-defects-in-falluja-could-be-linked-to-us-weapons-20101231-19bz6.html?from=age_ft


BAGHDAD: A study examining the causes of a dramatic rise in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Falluja has for the first time concluded that genetic damage could have been caused by weaponry used in US assaults that took place six years ago...

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Fallujah Epidemic of Birth Defects

Freshly published article in peer-reviewed scientific journal--


This case study is based on 55 families with seriously deformed newborns in Fallujah, Iraq.


The study also found that, of the 547 babies born in a Fallujah hospital last May, 15 percent had chronic deformities.


It was just published on December 31, 2010, at:


http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/8/1/89/pdf


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Mass media article--


"Birth defects in Falluja could be linked to US weapons"


by Martin Chulov
THE GUARDIAN (U.K.)


Published in the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)


January 1, 2011


At: http://www.smh.com.au/world/birth-defects-in-falluja-could-be-linked-to-us-weapons-20101231-19bz6.html

BAGHDAD: A study examining the causes of a dramatic rise in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Falluja has for the first time concluded that genetic damage could have been caused by weaponry used in US assaults that took place six years ago.

The research confirms earlier estimates revealed by The Guardian of an unexplained rise in cancers and chronic neural-tube, cardiac and skeletal defects in newborns.

The researchers found that malformations were almost 11 times higher than normal rates, and rose to unprecedented levels in the first half of last year, a period not surveyed in earlier reports.

The findings, to be published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health next week, precedes a much awaited World Health Organisation study of Falluja's genetic health.

They follow two alarming earlier studies, one of which found a distortion in the gender ratio of newborns since Iraq was invaded in 2003 - a 15 per cent drop in births of boys.

''We suspect that the population is chronically exposed to an environmental agent,'' said one of the report's authors, Mozhgan Savabieasfahani, an environmental toxicologist.

''We don't know what that environmental factor is, but we are doing more tests to find out.''

The report identifies metals as potential contaminating agents afflicting the city's residents, especially pregnant mothers.

''Metals are involved in regulating genome stability,'' the study says. ''As environmental effectors, metals are potentially good candidates to cause birth defects.''

The findings are likely to prompt further speculation that the defects were caused by depleted uranium rounds, which were heavily used in two large battles in the city in April and November 2004. The rounds, which contain ionising radiation, are a core component of the armouries of numerous militaries and militias.

Their effects have long been called into question. Some scientists say they leave behind a toxic residue, caused when the round - either from an assault rifle or an artillery piece - bursts through its target.

However, no evidence has been produced that proves this, and some researchers instead claim that depleted uranium has been demonstrably proven not to be a contaminant.

The report acknowledges that other battlefield residues may also be responsible for the birth defects. ''Many known war contaminants have the potential to interfere with normal embryonic and foetal development,'' the report says. ''The devastating effect of dioxins on the reproductive health of the Vietnamese people is well known.''

The latest Falluja study, conducted by a paediatrician at Falluja general hospital, surveyed 55 families with seriously deformed newborns between May and August.

In May, 15 per cent of the 547 babies born had birth defects. In the same period, 11 per cent of babies were born at less than 30 weeks, and 14 per cent of foetuses spontaneously aborted.

The researchers believe the figures understate what they describe as an epidemic of abnormalities, because many babies in Falluja are born at home.

The US military has long denied that it is responsible for any contaminant left behind in Falluja, or elsewhere in Iraq, as it continues to withdraw from the country it has occupied for almost eight years.

It has said that Iraqis who want to file a complaint are welcome to do so. Several families told The Guardian in 2009 that they had filed complaints but had not received replies.

Guardian News & Media

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Epidemic of Birth Defects in Fallujah, Iraq

"Research links rise in Falluja birth defects and cancers to US assault"

• Defects in newborns 11 times higher than normal

• 'War contaminants' from 2004 attack could be cause


by Martin Chulov
THE GUARDIAN (U.K.)

December 30, 2010

The full article is on the Web at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/30/faulluja-birth-defects-iraq

Brief excerpts from the article--


"A study examining the causes of a dramatic spike in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Falluja has for the first time concluded that genetic damage could have been caused by weaponry used in US assaults that took place six years ago.

"The research, which will be published next week, confirms earlier estimates revealed by the Guardian of a major, unexplained rise in cancers and chronic neural-tube, cardiac and skeletal defects in newborns. The authors found that malformations are close to 11 times higher than normal rates, and rose to unprecedented levels in the first half of this year – a period that had not been surveyed in earlier reports.

The findings, which will be published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, come prior to a much-anticipated World Health Organisation study of Falluja's genetic health. They follow two alarming earlier studies, one of which found a distortion in the sex ratio of newborns since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 – a 15% drop in births of boys.

"We suspect that the population is chronically exposed to an environmental agent," said one of the report's authors, environmental toxicologist Mozhgan Savabieasfahani. "We don't know what that environmental factor is, but we are doing more tests to find out...."


"...City's spike in deformity rates

"Birth-defect rates in Falluja have become increasingly alarming over the past two years. In the first half of 2010, the number of monthly cases of serious abnormalities rose to unprecedented levels. In Falluja general hospital, 15% of the 547 babies born in May had a chronic deformity, such as a neural tune defect – which affects the brain and lower limbs – cardiac, or skeletal abnormalities, or cancers.

"No other city in Iraq has anywhere near the same levels of reported abnormalities. Falluja sees at least 11 times as many major defects in newborns than world averages, the research has shown..."

"... In May, 15% of the 547 babies born had serious birth defects. In the same period, 11% of babies were born at less than 30 weeks and 14% of foetuses spontaneously aborted. "




-- END OF EXCERPT --

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Below:

12 photos of babies born in 2010 in Fallujah General Hospital. (The dates on some photos notwithstanding, they are all from 2010).

More independent biomedical investigation of Iraqi war victims is needed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is unlikely to conduct any unbiased study: See the British Medical Journal in November 2006 (11; 333(7576): 990), in an article entitled "WHO suppressed evidence on effects of depleted uranium, expert says", on the internet at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1635642/

Those scientists or foundations who wish to enable further research into the Fallujah epideomic of birth defects may contact bahar@umich.edu