Ann Arbor toxicologist: Study shows high rate of Fallujah birth defects, raises questions about whether U.S. war in Iraq is to blame

Ann Arbor toxicologist: Study shows high rate of Fallujah birth defects, raises questions about whether U.S. war in Iraq is to blame

Authors suspect metal contaminants are playing a part in the high rate of birth defects, though the environment was not studied. The researchers honed in on depleted uranium as an example of a war contaminant, but noted various war contaminants can potentially interfere with normal embryonic and fetal development. Among them are dioxins, the major contaminant of Agent Orange that had "devastating reproductive health effects" on the Vietnamese following the Vietnam War.