Effects of pesticides used in agriculture on the development of precocious puberty

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of pesticides on premature breast development. Forty-five girls (group 1) with premature breast development living in the Menderes region, where greenhouse cultivation is the main income, 16 girls (group 2) living in Izmir city with early puberty, and 33 girls (group 3) who had no signs of puberty were included in the study. Endosulphan 1, endosulphan 2, endosulphan sulphate, methoxychlor, vinclozolin, 4,4-dichlorodiphenyldichlorethylene (DDE), 4,-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and 2,4-DDT were evaluated in the serum and adipose tissues of the groups by using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. With the exception of 4,4'-DDE, the pesticides studied were undetectable in the serum and adipose tissue samples. The levels of basal luteinizing hormone (LH), stimulated LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and the long axis of the uterus and both ovaries were significantly different in the girls who had premature thelarche and detectable 4,4'-DDE levels compared to the girls who had premature thelarche and undetectable 4,4'-DDE levels in serum and adipose tissues. The presence and levels of pesticides in serum and adipose tissues were not related to precocious puberty (PP). The mechanisms that lead to PP may also result in obesity, and obesity may be the underlying cause for PP in this group.

Developmental variations in environmental influences including endocrine disruptors on pubertal timing and neuroendocrine control: Revision of human observations and mechanistic insight from rodents

“…Wolff et al (2008) do not find any change in timing of breast development in relation to serum DDE levels in girls in New York city (Table 5). Data on the timing of menarche (Table 6) after prepubertal exposure to DDE (DDT) are discrepant since it has been found to be early (Ouyang et al, 2005;Deng et al, 2012) or normal (Denham et al, 2005;Ozen et al, 2012). However, on account of the persistence of the insecticide in the body fluids, exposure earlier than in prepuberty cannot be excluded in these studies.…”

Assessment of estrogenic activity in PM10 air samples with the ERE-CALUX bioassay: Method optimization and implementation at an urban location in Flanders (Belgium)

“…They exert their effects by binding to hormone receptors, disturbing cell-signaling pathways, directly affecting the central neuro-endocrine system, inhibiting hormone synthesis and/or by their toxic effects on endocrine responsive organs. Continuous exposure to estrogens can pose severe health risks such as increased risk for breast cancer in adulthood, male and female infertility and precocious puberty (Krstevska-Konstantinova et al, 2001;Diamanti-Kandarakis et al, 2009;Ozen et al, 2012). Due to these health effects, there is growing attention on the presence of EDCs in our environment and our exposure to such chemicals.…”

Organochlorine pesticides and female puberty in South Kazakhstan

“…However, other researchers found no connection between pesticides and precocious puberty [17]. Certain data show that the increase in the pesticide level is accompanied by a reduction of the luteinizing [33] and steroid hormones [25].…”

“…For instance, some researchers [15,18] found a link between pesticides and precocious puberty, others [17] found no connection between the concentration of pesticides in the blood and adipose tissue and early puberty, while some [36] found that pesticides caused delayed puberty. These contradicting results may result from the use of different research objects (animals, humans) and different pesticides under consideration.…”