There is a strange phenomenon occurring today in which children as young as eight years old are showing signs of sexual development. Researchers call this ‘precocious puberty’. Sounds ordinary enough but what is alarming about this new trend is that this basically causes endocrine disruption believed to be from chemicals prevalent in our society. And, it is on the rise. According to the Jan. 07, Ode magazine, American girls are reaching puberty up to a year earlier than in previous generations, with some children showing signs of sexual development as young as age 3. Studies of large groups of children reveal these startling results:

“Forty-eight percent of African-American girls and 15 percent of Caucasian girls show physical signs of puberty by age 8, according to a study of 17,000 U.S. girls published in Pediatrics in 1997. In a subsequent study of more than 2,000 boys, author Marcia Herman-Giddens found that 38 percent of African-American boys and 30 percent of Caucasian boys showed signs of sexual development at age 8.”

Why is this happening? Many scientists suspect environmental chemicals, obesity and stress all contribute to this trend. Two of these factors we have some control over — obesity and stress. But the other one is of great concern because these chemicals are everywhere and it is difficult to avoid them. These chemicals are often called endocrine disruptors. From the Sept. 2006, Alternative Medicine, a number of human studies have found possible links between endocrine disruptors and early puberty due to fact that these chemicals mimic certain sex hormones.

So, what are all these chemicals in our environment? There are phthalates which are industrial plasticizers, personal-care products, vinyl and plastic packaging, pesticides, flame retardants and others. In one study reported in Ode, Puerto Rican girls whose breasts developed earlier were found to be three times more likely to have elevated levels of phthalate esters in their blood. Another reported that girls who had been exposed to polybrominated biphenyls or flame retardant which mimics estrogen, began menstruating a year earlier than a control group.




The implications of this dangerous new trend are that the problems associated with precocious puberty are many and far ranging. As young children struggle to cope with changing bodies, the psychological trauma may lead to later problems in life. According to a number of studies, these problems may include depression, substance abuse and teenage pregnancies in children who are just not mentally mature enough to cope at such a young age. And what’s happening with our children today affects not only their daily lives and their future health — but it may also be an early warning sign of possible increases in miss-diagnosed diseases and chronic health problems for everyone.

Alarmed? So, what can you do about this? According to Sherrill Sellman, an author of books regarding environmental pollution and their adverse health affects, here are some practical tips for anyone who is concerned about this growing health issue:

• Avoid meat, milk and dairy products containing growth hormones
• Buy organic products
• Minimize soy, which mimics estrogen
• Choose green household products
• Encourage children to eat well and exercise
• Prevent children from chewing on plastic toys
• Avoid PVC or polyvinyl chloride products including vinyl shower curtains, and toys and packaging that bear the number “3″, indicating they are made with PVC

Being that these pollutants are everywhere, from the food we eat to the cosmetics we put on our face, we should be ever vigilant for chemicals that are harmful to us. We can take many small steps such as the ones cited above, to help each of us to become more aware of not only what it is doing to us but what it is doing to our planet. We all need to become more “Green” conscious. So, next time when buying food or products, read the label and ask questions. After all, it’s your health, and your child’s future that’s at stake.

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