Chemicals in Personal Care Products Tied to Early Puberty in Girls

Abstract

Precocious puberty is defined as the onset of menarche before 9 years of age, or the appearance of secondary sex characteristics before 8 years of age. It is associated with many psychosocial disturbances and adverse health outcomes such as: cardiovascular disease, shorter adult stature, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and breast cancer. There is a general tendency to a progressive decrease in age of reaching puberty, specifically the onset of thelarche and menarche, girls being 10 times more affected than boys. This actual tendency can be explained by the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity and also by increasing environmental exposure to endocrine disruptor chemicals in household and personal care products.Phenols, phthalates, parabens and other compounds, such as polybrominated biphenyls and diethylstilbestrol are associated with precocious onset of puberty in girls, in case of in-utero or peripubertal exposure. These chemicals are frequently found in toothpaste, cosmetics, soups, shampoos, perfumes and other personal care products, interfering with sex hormones and puberty timing. This is why pregnant women should be more aware and avoid products based on these chemicals.

Carcinogenic effects of bisphenol A in breast and ovarian cancers (Review)

“…Nevertheless, exposure to BPA at an early age may be associated with multiple metabolic disorders. Associations of BPA exposure with adiposity, an increased body-fat percentage, a high body mass index and abdominal circumference, and numerous neurological implications, such as anxious or depressive behavior, has been observed in this category of young patients with the age ranging from 8 to 14 years (23,26).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, only a limited number of studies on humans have investigated the association between BPA exposure during either intrauterine life or the postnatal period and its effects on general health. BPA has been associated with multiple metabolic disorders, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent miscarriages and endometrial hyperplasia, as well as obesity and general health disorders, such as an altered immune system, cardiovascular disease, infertility, hormone-dependent tumors, diabetes in adults and precocious puberty (21)(22)(23). Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) present with higher circulating testosterone levels compared with healthy women.…”

“…Not only BPA is associated with the occurrence of ovarian cancer; other EDCs, such as methoxychlor [1,1,1-trichlor-2,2-bis-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethane; MXC] and triclosan (TCS) act synergistically. These chemical compounds are ubiquitous in everyday products, such as toothpaste, deodorants and hygiene products (23). Recent studies have shown these two compounds at relatively low doses can induce the growth of BG-1 ovarian cancer cells by regulating p21, cyclin D1 and Bax genes, which are associated with the cell cycle and apoptosis (62,63).…”

Comparative Experimental Study on an Endocrine Disruptor Degradation by UV/H2O2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2 Systems

“…BPA was found in all environmental media, including water [5][6][7][8][9] and cannot be adequately degraded by conventional wastewater treatment plants processes [10]. In order to surpass this issue there is a need for more performant degradation processes from which advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were thoroughly studied in the recent period for the degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants [11,12].…”

Ether-Based Polyurethane Foam for Vacuum-Assisted Closure (V.A.C.) of Complicated Postoperative Abdominal Wound Dehiscence

“…These substances are characterized by the ability to bind different hormone receptors and nuclear receptors associated with varying sex hormones and other compounds of the endocrine system. Considering these capabilities, they can act as agonists or antagonists, altering the response of genetic elements, blocking real hormones to bind its receptors, or even mimics the action of natural endogenous hormone and overactivate self-receptors [10,11].…”