Atrazine contamination of sow feed and water affects the litter sex ratio and increases fetal mortality in Thailand

Abstract

Feed and water samples for 828 sows collected at weaning and weekly during gestation were assayed for atrazine content. Atrazine intake >3 μg d−1 resulted in reduced litter size and increased female:male litter sex ratio (P < 0.05). Of 1483 mummified fetuses, the majority of them were male (2.5:1), and mortality primarily occurred in weeks 7 and 8.