The number of girls in the United States who get their periods before the age of 9 has more than tripled since the 1950s. While scientists have struggled to pinpoint the exact reasons behind this rise — a trend that is especially common among girls of color and those from low-income backgrounds — new research suggests that a chemical compound found in common scented products, from detergent and soaps to cosmetics, perfumes, and air fresheners, may have a hand in triggering early maturation.
The study, which was published this week in the journal Endocrinology, is the first to explore how environmental chemicals can affect the brain, possibly leading to early puberty. Researchers investigated 10,000 different compounds present in licensed pharmaceuticals before finding several chemicals that mimic, derail, and even block hormones in the body’s endocrine system. One of those chemicals is musk ambrette, a synthetic fragrance found in a wide variety of scented personal-care products to which children are often exposed. According to the study, musk ambrette could potentially latch onto a puberty-related receptor in the brain’s hypothalamus and spark the release of GnRH, a hormone involved in the production of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
While factors like genetics, weight, and socioeconomic stressors also play a role in precocious puberty, pediatric endocrinologist and one of the study’s lead authors Dr. Natalie Shaw emphasizes the importance of environmental factors. “In my practice, it’s not just those who are overweight or obese who are having early puberty,” Shaw told NBC News, and the sudden change in the average age of first menstruation “100 percent” suggests that environmental factors are to blame.
Early puberty has been linked to an increased risk of health problems later in life, including diabetes, heart disease, and breast and endometrial cancers. Musk ambrette is frequently used in personal-care products and has also been detected in wastewater and inside the bodies of freshwater fish. Dr. Shaw told Endocrinology that more research is needed to confirm the findings. In the meantime, and out of an abundance of caution, she suggests parents avoid products containing musk ambrette.
