Living Near Farms During Pregnancy Hurts Newborn Health
NonToxCo Research
Science & Safety Team · 4/6/2026
Babies born to mothers who lived close to agricultural pesticide use during pregnancy had lower Apgar scores. That's the test hospitals use in the first minutes of life to check if a newborn is healthy.
What the Study Found
A 2026 study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology analyzed births in Arizona from 2006 to 2020. The researchers measured how close pregnant women lived to areas of intensive agricultural pesticide use and compared that to their babies' Apgar scores at birth.
The closer a pregnant woman lived to pesticide-heavy farmland, the worse her baby's Apgar scores tended to be. The study looked at exposure during both preconception and pregnancy, meaning the pesticides could affect the baby even before conception.
What Apgar Scores Tell You
Apgar scores measure heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and skin color right after birth. A low score means the baby may need extra medical help. It's one of the first indicators that something went wrong during development.
What You Can Do
If you're pregnant or planning to be and live near farmland, be aware of spray schedules. Keep windows closed during application seasons. Use air purifiers. And talk to your doctor about your exposure risk.
If you're looking for cleaner baby products, check out our non-toxic baby products.
Also see glass food storage for safer alternatives.Source: Yang AR, Parra KL, Paul KC, et al. (2026). J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol.