Mums in Waterdales,
Northfleet, whose children were born with gastroschisis

Mothers whose children were born with the same rare birth
defects have been told it is just a coincidence.

Health bosses have ruled there have not been more children
diagnosed with gastroschisis in Waterdales, Northfleet, than would
be expected.

It comes after five women living in the same street all gave
birth to children with the condition, where the bowel grows outside
the abdomen.

Four more women living in Waterdales then came forward to say
their children have been diagnosed with gastroschisis.

Kent's public health team launched an investigation into a
possible cluster of cases in the area between 2001 and 2012.

Meradin Peachey, Kent's director of public health and pictured
left, has now revealed it did not find any evidence of a cluster of
cases.

She said the probe did not find evidence of higher rates of
gastroschisis than could be considered normal in the Waterdales
area.

The condition affects one in 7,000 births across Britain.

The rate of gastroschisis, which is higher in young mothers and
in more deprived areas, in Gravesham was found to be 3.11 per
10,000 births between 1996 and 2011.

This is said to be close to the average for Kent.

The area immediately around Waterdales - where mothers are
concerned about old landfill sites - was found to have higher rates
of gastroschisis.

However, the investigation found the difference is "not
statistically significant, which means it is within normal levels
of variation".

In her report, Ms Peachey said: "The group note that data used
is not perfect, but having considered the available evidence on
local, national and international rates of gastroschisis, it was
felt unlikely that there was an excess of cases of gastroschisis in
the Waterdales area.

"On these grounds it was decided, as set out in the protocol,
that no further investigation would be carried
out."

Mothers living in
Waterdales, Northfleet, gave birth to children with the defects

However, the report said Kent and Medway Public Health
Observatory should repeat the analysis of cases early next
year.

Earlier this week, we reported how the mothers believe they might have found a possible cause behind the defects after researching banned chemical atrazine.

However, health experts have dismissed the link as
"unlikely".

The chemical is at the centre of a lawsuit contested by legal
activist Erin Brockovich, who wants water companies to remove it
from their supplies.

Atrazine was banned by the European Union in 2004, but high
levels were discovered in Northfleet during a ground water study
four years later.

The chemical is used widely as a herbicide and research from
American scientists shows a link between it and an increase in
gastroschisis cases.