Politics & Governance / Public Policy / Environmental & Climate Policy

Bombs & Babies: How US Navy Bombing in Vieques Caused a 72% Drop in Birth Defects

This video explores a shocking study from 2016: the direct link between US Navy bombing exercises on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, and devastating effects on newborn health. We break down how exposure to heavy metal pollution (like arsenic) from live-fire drills led to a 70% increase in extreme premature births and up to a 77% rise in congenital malformations. The most striking finding? When the bombing stopped in 2000, birth defects dropped by 72% almost overnight. This is not about war—it's about a hidden environmental crisis. Watch to understand the science, the data, and the real cost of military exercises on human life.