The influence of endocrine disruptors on pubertal timing.
OBJECTIVE
Overview of the effects of endocrine disruptors on pubertal timing.


RESULTS
Epidemiologic studies in humans support animal data demonstrating that exposures to endocrine-disrupting compounds have pronounced effects on pubertal timing and that the timing of endocrine-disrupting compound exposure and the specific agent causes different outcomes. Recent studies confirm subtle effects of lead, dioxins, and phytoestrogens on delaying onset of puberty and demonstrate an association of phthalates and polychlorinated biphenyls with earlier breast development and menarche, respectively. These studies, however, are complicated by mixed exposures of compounds which individually may have opposing actions on the reproductive axis.


CONCLUSIONS
Animal and human data confirm perturbations in pubertal onset with exposures to endocrine-disrupting compounds.
Jacobson-Dickman
Elka
E
Pediatric Endocrine Division, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, NY, USA.
Lee
Mary M
MM
D017668:Age of Onset; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006727:Hormone Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008572:Menarche / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D023421:Models, Animal; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D006727:Hormone Antagonists; D006728:Hormones