"New Study: Babies Near Gas Wells More Likely To Have Birth Defects"

"Women who live near natural gas wells in rural Colorado are more likely to have babies with neural tube and congenital heart defects, according to a new study."

"As natural gas extraction soars in the United States, the findings add to a growing concern by many activists and residents about the potential for health effects from the air pollutants.
JustinWoolford/flickr
Colorado remains among states torn over gas production.

Researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health analyzed birth defects among nearly 125,000 births in Colorado towns with fewer than 50,000 people between 1996 and 2009, examining how close the mothers lived to natural gas wells."

Brian Bienkowski reports for Environmental Health News January 31, 2014.