Research: New pollutants associated with an altered ratio of baby boys to girls

According to one research, pollution generated by several substances such as mercury, chromium, lead, and aluminium appears to have an influence on the sex ratio of infants.

The research looked at over 100 potential variables, including the whole Swedish population and half of the US population. Poverty indicators, in addition to other contaminants, have been related to changes in the sex ratios of children born to millions of parents.

It found that mercury, chromium and aluminum pollution seem to have led to birth of more boys, while lead pollution resulted in rise in the number of girls.

Due to extreme chemical exposures, the farming also affects sex ratio.

The indicators of stress and deprivation measures have also been linked to high changes in sex ratios.

The factors like weather temperature, season of birth, violent crime rates and unemployment, did not show any relation.

The study does not show cause and effect but only correlations between several factors and sex ratios. The researchers feel more investigation is required to go into the depth of the reasons for these findings.

Andrey Rzhetsky at University of Chicago, who led research, said, “This is a list of suspects to investigate, and all the suspects have some credible evidence, but we’re very far from conviction.”