/
1x
Advertisement

9/11 led to increase in male miscarriages: report

Fewer boys were born in all states in months following attacks
Add Maclean's(opens in a new tab)

It seems that the stress caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York contributed to an increase of miscarriages in male fetuses, according to a new review from the University of California, Irvine, which supports what experts call the theory of “communal bereavement,” or the acute mental distress that follows a major national event. The study, in BMC Public Health, found that 12 per cent more male babies were lost in Sept. 2001 after the 20th week of pregnancy, than in what would be called a “normal” September,” and fewer boys were born in all states three to four months after the attack. Stressful times reportedly reduce male birth rate across many species, said lead researcher Dr. Tim Bruckner.

BBC News

Get the Best of Maclean’s straight to your inbox.

Sign up for news, commentary and analysis. Join 60,000+ Canadian readers.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.