Main findings of the Imperial College London study of increased birth defect risks for those living within two kilometres of landfill sites:
7 per cent increased risk for diseases such as spina bifida.
6 per cent increased risk for low birth weight.
no causes identified for the increased risk.
no increase in stillbirths.
no difference noted between domestic refuse dumps and hazardous waste dumps.
analysis included 8.2 million live births between 1982 and 1997.
