These popular care products disturb our development

Cosmetic chemicals trigger early puberty?

Hidden in toothpaste, make-up, soaps and other care products lurk chemicals associated with premature onset of puberty. The decisive factor is not only whether the children use these products, but whether the mother has used them during pregnancy. This was found by an international research team in a study.

In the last 20 years, statistics have shown that girls and possibly boys are getting into puberty earlier and earlier. Researchers at the School of Public Health have now found a possible reason for this development. According to the results of the study, a group of chemicals, the so-called endocrine disruptors, are associated with the premature onset of puberty. These chemicals are often components of common care products. The study results have recently appeared in the journal "Human Reproduction" of the Oxford Academic.

Care products have become indispensable in our everyday lives. However, most people do not realize that in many articles there are chemicals that can affect our hormones. (Image: Lars Zahner / fotolia.com)

Premature puberty carries health risks

The researchers emphasize that these results are worrying, as premature puberty is associated with numerous health risks later in life. Thus, it comes increasingly in girls to breast and ovarian cancer and in boys to testicular cancer. In addition, there is a heightened risk of developing mental illness for both sexes, warns the research group.

Which chemicals are responsible?

The team showed that the two common ingredients in personal care products - diethyl phthalate and triclosan - induce premature puberty in girls when exposed to chemicals in the mother's stomach. In girls, the relationship was much clearer than in boys. For the long-term study, 338 children were followed from pregnancy to puberty and examined at regular intervals.

In which care articles are these ingredients?

Triclosan works against bacteria, fungi and certain viruses and is therefore used in various personal care products such as toothpaste, deodorants and soaps, but also in household cleaners and detergents. According to the researchers, diethyl phthalate is often used as a stabilizer in perfumes and cosmetics.

Cosmetics influence our development?

"We know that some of the things we use to care for our bodies also get into our bodies - either because they go through our skin or we breathe them in," says Professor Kim Harley of the School of Public Health in a press release study results. The long-term effects of the substances are unknown in many chemicals. The research team suspects that many chemicals in personal care products can affect the natural hormones in our body.

The more chemistry, the earlier puberty

The researchers found that with increasing concentrations of diethyl phthalate and triclosan in the mother's urine during pregnancy, the puberty of girls also began earlier. Each time the concentrations doubled, the puberty of the girls prematurely increased by one month.

Parabens are also suspected

Furthermore, the group of substances of parabens are suspected to get puberty in young girls. These chemicals are found in many cosmetics, but are also used as food preservatives. Researchers observed that girls tend to have premature puberty if they had higher levels of urinary parabens at the age of nine.

What came first - the chicken or the egg?

"However, it is unclear whether the parabens triggered the shift or whether girls who go into puberty use toiletries at a younger age," says Harley. Although more research is needed in this area, people should know that body care products contain substances that can disrupt the hormones in our body, the expert said. Consumers who have concerns should take action to limit exposure to such chemicals, the professor suggests. (Vb)