Air pollution exposure can impact girls' puberty, finds study

Researchers from Emory University and Harvard University in the US have found a connection between childhood exposure to air pollution and the age at which girls experienced their first periodsThe study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives collected data from more than 5200 girls across the US that girls who had higher residential exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution throughout their childhoods tended to have their first periods soonerGirls who have their first periods at an earlier age face increased risk for several diseases later during their lifetime including cardiovascular disease Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancerldquoThe study highlights one potential environmental factor particulate matter air pollution that may help explain the trend of earlier ages of menarche being observed over the past 50 years While more research is necessary it suggests that early life environmental exposures may play a key role in dictating the pace of reproductive development in girlsrdquo explained Audrey Gaskins senior author and associate professor of epidemiology at Emory UniversityThe reproductive health of young girls can be protected as early as in utero through enacting policies and regulations designed to reduce the primary sources of particulate matter air pollution including emissions from gasoline oil diesel fuel and wood combustionThe study only investigated a single type of air pollutant particulate matterHowever people are exposed to several different types of air pollutants so additional research is needed to understand howif multiple air pollutants interact with each other and if this mixture has a different effect on the reproductive health of girlsldquoWe found that higher exposure to fine particulate matter a type of air pollution was related to earlier menarche We think that fine particulate matter may disrupt the endocrine system and in part lead to earlier menarche in girls Although additional research is needed to confirm thisrdquo said Robert Hood lead author from Emory UniversityThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever