Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences identified a compound that affects an area of the brain that triggers hormone production.

Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences identified a compound that affects an area of the brain that triggers hormone production.

The age when girls hit puberty has been falling at an alarming rate for decades, and scientists have struggled to explain why. New research suggests a compound found in a wide variety of products — from cosmetics to air fresheners to detergents and soaps — may send a signal to an area of the brain that triggers the start of puberty.

It’s the first time researchers have looked at the possible impact of environmental chemicals on the brain to explain the rise in early puberty, said Dr. Natalie Shaw, a pediatric endocrinologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Durham, North Carolina.

Starting puberty significantly early — younger than age 8 in girls, 9 in boys — may have health effects lasting into adulthood, including higher risks of breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease. It can also lead to shortened stature in both girls and boys. In May, a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that 15.5% of girls experienced early periods — younger than age 11 — and that 1.4% started menstruating younger than age 9.

  • Sundial@lemm.eeEnglish
    40·
    8 days ago

    For those of you curious, the ingredient used that they think may cause this is musk ambrette. It’s banned in the EU since it’s shown to be linked to dermatitis, carcinogenic effects and endocrine dysfunction.

    • nailingjello@lemmy.zipEnglish
      7·
      8 days ago

      Thanks for mentioning the actual ingredient. Here are a few quotes from the article I think were important:

      Musk ambrette is widely used in inexpensive or counterfeit fragrances and other scented personal care products, Shaw said. But it has also turned up in surveys of wastewater and in the bodies of freshwater fish, the researchers noted.

      Shaw suggests that until more is known, parents hoping to prevent early puberty should check ingredient lists for musk ambrette on any cosmetics, fragrances and household products their children might use.

      … families might cut back on products with strong scents.

      “If you need a lotion, it can be scent-free,” McDonald said. “In the shower, you can avoid scented body washes and shampoos.”