Perinatal environmental exposures affect mammary development, function, and cancer risk in adulthood.
Puberty is an important transition that enables reproduction of mammalian species. Precocious puberty, specifically early thelarche (the appearance of breast "buds"), in girls of multiple ethnic backgrounds is a major health problem in the United States and other countries. The cause for a continued decrease in the age of breast development in girls is unknown, but environmental factors likely play a major role. Laboratory and epidemiological studies have identified several individual environmental factors that affect breast development, but further progress is needed. Current research needs include increased attention to and recording of prenatal and neonatal environmental exposures, testing of marketed chemicals for effects on the mammary gland, and understanding of the mammary gland-specific mechanisms that are altered by chemicals. Such research is required to halt the increasing trend toward puberty at earlier ages.
Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA. fentonse@niehs.nih.gov
Suzanne E
SE
Fenton
Casey
C
Reed
Retha R
RR
Newbold
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001940:Breast / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004032:Diet; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011629:Puberty, Precocious / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012377:Rodentia / Q000254:growth & development; D014481:United States
D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants