Girls May Start Puberty Early Due To Toxic Chemicals [Video]

Data has shown girls around the world have begun starting puberty earlier, and a new study suggests this might be because of exposure to toxic chemicals.

Early puberty is associated with an increased risk of multiple conditions, from psychosocial problems to physical diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and breast cancer.

It has previously been suggested that a recent rise in early puberty among girls may be due to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs): substances which interfere with hormones in the body.

But a study published in scientific journal Endocrinology on Tuesday has identified two chemicals that they believe could act as EDCs and prompt puberty to start early in girls.

“We conducted a comprehensive screen of 10,000 environmental compounds with extensive follow-up studies using human brain cells that control the reproductive axis, and our team identified several substances that may contribute to early puberty in girls,” said study author Dr. Natalie Shaw, from the National Institutes …