Beauty Chemicals Tied to Early Puberty in Girls
Mary S. Wolff, Ph.D., et.al.
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
U01ES012770, 12771, 12800, 12801, and P01ES009584, and K01ES012645
Exposure to three common classes of chemicals in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development according to a multi-city epidemiologic study of young girls. The authors conclude that these exposures may put these girls at risk for health complications later in life.
Girls 6-8 years old from New York City, Cincinnati, and northern California were enrolled in the study beginning in 2004. Urine samples were analyzed for phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens and compared to breast and pubic hair development assessed as the girls got older. The data show that the three different classes of chemicals were widely detectable in the study population and that exposure to certain chemicals was associated with early breast development. Use of personal care products such as lotions and shampoo that contain phthalates, especially formulations with fragrance, was associated with early breast and pubic hair development.
Previous research has shown that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects including cancer and diabetes later in life. The current research demonstrates an association between chemicals that girls are exposed to on a frequent basis and early puberty. While the researchers conclude that more research is needed, these data are an important first step in evaluating the effects of these common agents and future health risks.
Citation: Wolff MS, Teitelbaum SL, Pinney SM, Windham G, Liao L, Biro F, Kushi LH,Erdmann C, Hiatt RA, Rybak ME, Calafat AM; Breast Cancer and Environment Research Centers. Investigation of Relationships between Urinary Biomarkers of Phytoestrogens, Phthalates, and Phenols and Pubertal Stages in Girls. Environ Health Perspect. 2010. Mar 22.
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