Environmental Toxins Causing Early Puberty in Both Boys and Girls
December 19, 2012
Story at-a-glance
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Recent research shows that boys, like girls, are beginning
sexual development much sooner than historically normal. Boys
are now developing six months to two years earlier than the
medically accepted standard based on previous studies
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Precocious puberty can affect both physical and psychological
health, including raising the future risk for hormone-related
cancers
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The trend raises serious questions about environmental factors
spurring this development, as it cannot be explained through
genetic changes
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Xeno-estrogens (estrogen-mimicking chemicals) behave like
steroid hormones and can alter the timing of puberty, and affect
disease risk throughout life. In adults, such chemicals have
been linked to decreased sperm quality, stimulation of mammary
gland development in men, disrupted reproductive cycles and
ovarian dysfunction, obesity, cancer, heart disease and more
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Top environmental offenders include plasticizing chemicals like
BPA, BPS, and phthalates, agricultural chemicals, and
food-related substances like MSG, bovine growth hormone (rBGH),
and unfermented soy products
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Research has confirmed the existence of a previously unknown
class of estrogen-mimicking metals referred to as
"metalloestrogens." These metals, which are added to thousands
of consumer products, including vaccines, have been identified
as being capable of binding to cellular estrogen receptors and
mimicking the actions of physiological estrogens
By Dr. Mercola
Reaching puberty is a rite of passage that we've all been
through, but children are now reaching it earlier than ever
before, and while precocious puberty in girls has received most
of the attention, we now know the trend applies to boys as well.
In the 19th century, the onset of menstruation in girls
occurred around the age of 15. Now the average age of the first
period is around 12. Some girls develop breasts as early as age
seven1
.
According to a recent study in the journal Pediatrics2,
boys are now beginning sexual development anywhere from six
months to two years earlier than the medically accepted standard
based on previous studies.
African-American boys were found to hit the onset of puberty
the soonest, starting around the age of nine. Caucasian and
Hispanic boys begin developing around the age of 10.
"The causes and public health implications of this
apparent shift in US boys to a lower age of onset for the
development of secondary sexual characteristics in US boys
needs further exploration," the authors write.
Indeed, while some may shrug off the trend of earlier
maturation, it's actually pretty significant, as it can affect
both physical and psychological health in a number of ways,
including raising the future risk for hormone-related cancers.
Girls who enter puberty earlier are at an increased risk of
breast cancer, for example, due to the early rise in estrogen.
The trend also raises serious questions about environmental
factors spurring this development. Lead researcher Marcia
Herman-Giddens told CNN Health3:
"The changes are too fast. Genetics take maybe
hundreds, thousands of years. You have to look at something
in the environment. That would include everything from (a
lack of) exercise to junk food to TV to chemicals."
Environmental Chemicals a Likely Factor
Scientists have brought forth a number of potential
explanations for the rising rates of early puberty, but one that
deserves special attention is environmental chemicals, and
particularly xeno-estrogens, i.e. estrogen-mimicking chemicals.
These compounds behave like steroid hormones and can alter
the timing of puberty, and affect disease risk throughout life.
In adults, xeno-estrogens have been linked to decreased sperm
quality, stimulation of mammary gland development in men,
disrupted reproductive cycles and ovarian dysfunction, obesity,
cancer and heart disease, among numerous other health problems.
We're surrounded by hormone-disrupting chemicals these days,
many of which are plasticizers. Bisphenol A (BPA) for example,
is an industrial petrochemical that acts as a synthetic
estrogen, and can be found plastics and tin can linings, in
dental sealants, and on cash-register receipts. Three years ago,
laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group
(EWG) detected
BPA in the umbilical cord blood of 90 percent of newborn
infants tested -- along with more than 230 other chemicals!
In September 2010, Canada declared
BPA a toxic substance, but to date no other country has
followed suit, although BPA has been banned in baby bottles in
Canada, Europe and the United States. Frustratingly, the US
FDA has denied the request to ban BPA, however many American
companies have voluntarily removed the chemical from their
products, in response to consumer demand. So, if you check
around, you can find a lot of BPA-free products.
However, buyer beware, as it recently came to light that some
companies are simply replacing the offending BPA with another
less known but equally toxic chemical called
bisphenol-S (BPS)! Not only does BPS appear to have similar
hormone-mimicking characteristics to BPA, but research suggests
it is actually significantly less biodegradable, and more
heat-stable and photo-resistant, than BPA.
10 Top Offenders that Can Disrupt Your Hormones
Beside BPA and BPS, other top offenders you should be aware
of, and watch out for, include:
Phthalates, a group of industrial
chemicals used to make plastics like polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) more flexible and resilient. They're also one of
the most pervasive of the endocrine disrupters, found in
everything from processed food packaging and shower
curtains to detergents, toys and beauty products like
nail polish, hair spray, shampoo, deodorants, and
fragrances. Exposure to phthalates can lead to
incomplete testicular descent in fetuses, reduced sperm
counts, testicular atrophy or structural abnormality and
inflammation in newborns. |
Fluoride, which is added to the
majority of public water supplies in the United States.
Research has shown that
animals treated with fluoride had lower levels of
circulating melatonin, as reflected by reduced levels of
melatonin metabolites in the animals' urine. This
reduced level of circulating melatonin was accompanied
-- as might be expected -- by an earlier onset of
puberty in the fluoride-treated female animals. |
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a likely
carcinogen found in grease- and water-resistant coatings
and non-stick cookware. |
Methoxychlor and Vinclozin, an
insecticide and a fungicide respectively, have been
found to cause changes to male mice born for as many as
four subsequent generations after the initial exposure.
|
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).
Known to be potent endocrine disrupters, these chemicals
affect gene expression by turning on or off certain
genes, and interfere with the way your glandular system
works. |
Bovine growth hormones (rBGH) commonly
added to commercial dairy have been implicated as a
contributor to premature adolescence. |
MSG, a food additive that's been linked
to reduced fertility. |
Non-fermented soy products, which are
loaded with hormone-like substances. |
DDE (a breakdown product of the
pesticide DDT) |
PCBs |
New Concern: Metalloestrogens
Recent research has also confirmed the existence of a
previously unknown class of cancer-causing estrogen-mimicking
compounds: "metalloestrogens." The following metals, which are
added to thousands of consumer products, including vaccines,
have been identified as being capable of binding to cellular
estrogen receptors and then mimicking the actions of
physiological estrogens:4
Aluminum |
Antimony |
Arsenite |
Barium |
Cadmium |
Chromium |
Cobalt |
Copper |
Lead |
Mercury |
Nickel |
Selenite |
Tin |
Vanadate |
Tips to Reduce Exposure to Hormone-Disrupting Substances
While young girls and boys may show obvious signs of exposure
to hormone-disrupting substances via early puberty, other
signals are more insidious and may not show up until a disease
is already present. You can cut back on your family's exposure
to these dangerous chemicals by following these 12 guidelines.
Pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should pay
particular attention to reducing their exposure as much as
possible to protect the health of their unborn baby:
- Eat whole, preferably organic, produce and free-range,
organic meats to reduce your exposure to added hormones,
pesticides and fertilizers. Also avoid milk and other dairy
products that contain the genetically engineered recombinant
bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST)
- Eat mostly raw, fresh foods. Processed, prepackaged
foods (of all kinds) are a major source of soy and chemicals
such as BPA and phthalates.
- Store your food and beverages in glass rather than
plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap and canned foods
(which are often lined with BPA-containing liners).
- Use glass baby bottles and BPA-free sippy cups for your
little ones.
- Make sure your baby's toys are BPA-free, such as
pacifiers, teething rings and anything your child may be
prone to suck on.
- Only use natural cleaning products in your home to avoid
phthalates.
- Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as
shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. The
Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database5
is a great resource for finding personal care products that
are free of phthalates, parabens and other potentially
dangerous chemicals.
- Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets,
fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.
- Replace your non-stick pots and pans with ceramic or
glass cookware.
- When redoing your home, look for "green," toxin-free
alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor
coverings.
- Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of
fabric.
- Avoid non-fermented soy, especially if you're pregnant.
Also, never use
soy-based infant formula.
© Copyright 1997-2012 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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