HC Deb 02 April 1980 vol 982 c268W
Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any research has been carried out in the United Kingdom regarding a possible correlation between the incidence of stillbirths and the presence of lead in drinking water and what link, if any, was established.

Mr. Macfarlane

I am not aware of any research having been carried out in the United Kingdom on the specific topic of a possible correlation between the incidence of stillbirths and the presence of lead in drinking water. I understand that a small research project on the correlation of the levels of heavy metals—including lead—in placental tissues, with congenital malformations, is being conducted at the University of Aston with support from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Serivces.