The age at which girls reach puberty has been declining at an alarming rate for several decades now, and scientists are struggling to explain why. The fact is that Entering puberty early brings with it a long list of health problemswith an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and breast cancer (not to mention psychological and social distress). In this context comes a research that adds a piece to the puzzle. According to a new study published in the scientific journal Endocrinology and conducted by a research team from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Durham, North Carolina, there may be a very specific culprit behind precocious puberty, namely a chemical compound found in a wide range of personal and household care products.
A new lead on the growing phenomenon of precocious puberty
The incriminated chemical compound It is found in many cosmetics and soapsbut also in air fresheners and perfumes. This is musky ambrettewhich has caused particular concern among researchers precisely because it is present in many commonly used products and because able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Specifically, this compound could send a signal to an area of the brain that triggers the production of hormones and the onset of puberty. This is the first time that researchers have studied the possible impact of environmental chemicals on the brain to explain the widespread phenomenon of precocious puberty. The study’s lead author, Natalie Shaw, told ScienceDaily: «We conducted a comprehensive screening of 10,000 environmental compoundsfollowing up with in-depth studies in which we used human brain cells that control the reproductive axis. Our team has identified several substances that could contribute to early puberty in girls.” Among these, musk ambrette is potentially very risky. We are talking about endocrine disruptors (EDC)that is, chemical compounds that mimic, block, or interfere with hormones in the body’s endocrine system. As the study’s authors themselves confirm, further research is needed to reach new evidence.
SCIENTIFIC SOURCES USED FOR THIS ARTICLE:
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
