Backround: Recently, the Israeli media presented unpublished evidence and interviews claiming that neonates born in Haifa`s air polluted areas exhibit lower mean head circumference and higher rates of microcephaly. The data was quoted from "first year findings" of a 5 year study at Haifa University. The issue was widely discussed in the parliament and in the public, but not published in peer review literature, raising significant anxiety and anger. The study`s steering committee seriously criticized its methods and results, but these facts did not decrease the perception of "cover up".
Objectives: To compare head circumference and rates of microcephaly in the claimed polluted areas in Haifa to the rest of Israel.
Methods: Maccabi is the second largest HMO in Israel with over 2 million ensured persons. Head circumference is measured in neonatal well baby clinics in infancy in 25% of children ensured in Maccabi. We identified all babies born in the 4 polluted cities (Kiryat Bialik, Kiryay Chaim, Kiryat Tiv`on and Nesher) and compared them to neonates born in the rest of the country.
Results: The mean head circumference percentile in the polluted area(38.09+-26.42 ;n=1133) was similar to the rest of the country(37.59+-25.62; n=209639). The proportion of children with head circumference below the 3rd percentile was similarly comparable between Haifa`s polluted areas (4.92%) and the rest of the country (4.83%).
Conclusions: These data do not support evidence of higher incidence of microcephaly in polluted regions in Haifa Bay.
