According to a new study by Hagen Scherb and Kristina Voigt from the Helmholtz Zentrum München, radiation has a long-term negative affect on the ratio of male to female births, otherwise known as sex odds. Their studies have demonstrated that radiation from atomic bomb testing before the Partial Test Ban Treaty in 1963, the Chernobyl accident, and from living near nuclear facilities has produced an increase in baby boys being born. Their work shows that, between 1964-1975, there was an increase in male births in Europe and the US. This is the time period before the atomic bomb test ban was put into effect. Also, they state that families living near in proximity to nuclear power plants also show a significantly increased ratio of male to female births. Something that they're continuing to look into is whether this phenomena is due to increased male births or decreased female births.
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