Certain chemicals commonly found in fragrances and personal care products could cause some girls to start puberty earlier than their peers.
Girls in the United States typically hit puberty between the ages of 8 and 13. However, this has been dropping by three months every decade since 1980, according to a 2020 analysis of global data. More specifically, an increasing number of children younger than age 8 are experiencing precocious puberty, which means they are developing breasts, acne, and pubic hair earlier than normal.
In May, 15.5% of girls started menstruating before they were 11 years old. At least 1.4% of girls experienced periods before they were age 9, according to Harvard researchers.
It is unclear why precocious puberty is happening, but a study published in Endocrinology found that chemical compounds in cosmetics, perfumes, air fresheners, detergents, and soaps could be triggering this.
The study was conducted by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Chemical Compounds in Fragrances Triggered Early Puberty
Substances noted in the study included musk ambrette and cholinergic agonists, both of which are known as "hormone-disrupting" or "endocrine-disrupting" compounds.
Musk ambrette is commonly found in counterfeit fragrances and inexpensive scented personal care products. Cholinergic agonists are commonly used on patients who suffer from severely dry mouth due to radiation therapy or medical conditions.
READ ALSO : Weight Loss Medicine for Younger Children Ages 6 to 12 With Obesity Shows Promising Results in Trial
NIH researchers screened 10,000 environmental compounds and studied how they affected rodent and human brain cells, specifically receptors that control reproductive functions. Both musk ambrette and cholinergic agonists stimulated those receptors and increased the premature activation of "reproductive access in children," the researchers noted.
Canada and Europe have restricted the use of musk ambrette. In the US, the compound was also removed from the Food and Drug Administration's "generally recognized as safe" list.
Effects of Precocious Puberty
Girls who start puberty earlier than average may be at a higher risk of health conditions in adulthood, including breast cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Precocious puberty can also cause social and emotional problems among children and raise the risk of depression or alcohol and substance abuse.
Furthermore, early puberty can cause children to be shorter than average as adults, per Mayo Clinic.
