title: Malformations of central nervous system and softness of local water supplies.
abstract: The mean annual prevalence at birth of congenital malformations of the central nervous system for the three years 1964-6 in 48 local authority areas in South Wales was negatively correlated (r = -0.402, P<0.01) with estimates of the mean total hardness of the related water supplies.The mean annual perinatal mortality rate from anencephalus for the five years 1963-7 in 58 county boroughs in England and Wales was also negatively correlated with estimates of the mean total hardness (r = -0.220, P>0.05) and calcium content (r = -0.289, P<0.05) of the related water supplies.It is concluded that the relationship between these associations may well be secondary. Analytical epidemiological studies of the association are called for.
mesh_terms: D000757:Anencephaly / Q000401:mortality; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D012923:Social Class; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000453:epidemiology; D014852:Wales; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D002118:Calcium