Asthma linked to pesticide in womb

BABIES exposed to certain pesticides in the womb go on to have worse lung function in childhood, suggests a Spanish study presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

Problems such as asthma, a tendency to develop chest infections and wheezing in children have been linked to mothers consuming toxic so- called ‘organochlorine’ pesticides, including DDT.

These chemicals were banned in most countries in the Seventies, but they degrade slowly and are still present in the environment, especially in the fat of meat and fish.

The researchers suggested that expectant mothers should limit their consumption of fatty meat and oily fish.