Young girls exposed to phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens risk disrupted pubertal development health complications later in life, states a study.
The study from Mount Sinai School of Medicine was the first to examine the effects of these classes of chemicals on pubertal development was published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
“Research has shown that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects, including cancer and diabetes later in life,” said Dr. Mary Wolff, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
“Our research shows a connection between chemicals that girls are exposed to on a daily basis and either delayed or early development” she said.
More research is needed, but the data is an important first step in continuing to evaluate the impact of these common chemicals on young girls.
Phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens are known as endocrine disruptors, which interfere with the body’s endocrine, or hormone, system.
They are found in a wide range of consumer products, such as nail polishes, to increase durability, and in cosmetics, perfumes, lotions, and shampoos, to carry fragrance.
They increase the flexibility and durability of plastics such as PVC, and used in the medication and coatings to make them timed-release.
Dr. Wolff, co-principal investigator Susan Teitelbaum, PhD, Associate Professor, Preventive Medicine, recruited girls from the neighborhood of East Harlem, a unique minority population considered high risk.
Working with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Kaiser Permanente Northern California, they analyzed the impact of exposure to environmental agents in a study that included 1,151 girls from New York, greater Cincinnati and northern California.
The girls were between 6- and 8-years-old at enrollment and between 7 and 9 at analysis. Researchers collected urine samples from the study participants and analyzed them for phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens, including 19 separate urine biomarkers.
The three chemical compound classes were widely detectable in the study group and that high exposure to certain chemicals was linked to early breast development.
The strongest links were seen with phthalates and phytoestrogens, which were among the most highly exposure chemicals.
One phenol, two phytoestrogens, and a subset of phthalates (those found in building products and plastic tubing) were associated with later puberty.
However, the phthalates found in personal products such as lotion and shampoo, especially those with fragrance, were related to earlier breast and pubic hair development.
“We believe that there are certain periods of vulnerability in the development of the mammary gland” said Dr. Wolff. “and exposure to these chemicals may influence breast cancer risk in adulthood.”
“Dietary habits may also have an impact. Further study is needed to determine how strong the link is.”
Researchers also found that body-mass index (BMI) played a role in the onset of puberty. About a third of the girls were considered overweight, which is also an indicator of early breast development.
While researchers continue to study the impact of diet on pubertal development and eventual breast cancer risk, some of the chemical associations differed in more or less obese girls..
“Exposure to these chemicals is extremely common,” Dr. Wolff continued. “As such, while the association between chemicals and pubertal development seems small, the impact on the overall population is significant.”
Interestingly, in 1999 Linda Folden Palmer in Dynamic Chiropractic reported that girls in industrialized nations are now reaching puberty at drastically earlier ages whilst Hispanic-American girls don’t experience this early puberty to the same extent.
She stated that two factors proven responsible for precocious puberty are detached parenting3 and consumption of cow’s milk. As a whole, Hispanic parents tend to protect their young from both of these debilitating influences.
I didn’t realize makeup could cause that. I should be a little more careful with my daughter.
I don’t think so that cosmetic have any side effect. Today our life becoming modern and cosmetic use to keep our self fresh.
nice one and accepted
If we try natural product and ayurvdic product than its more better for our life. and Sneha if our life is surrounded by cosmetic then only our life is now short.
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?
Many people have began to experiment with mixing scented oils to produce a unique fragrance which no one else has. Many of my customers have done so and this seems to be developing into a new trend. Some will use base oil fragrances and mix them with colognes for a unique effect. Others will mix them with unscented lotions and other products. This generally works very well and has allowed many customers to make a signature fragrance which defines them to the world.