Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing

This review examines the inconsistent effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pollutants on pubertal timing, emphasizing the methodological challenges contributing to variability in findings. Data from nine key studies reveal that chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PFAS impact puber...

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Main Authors: And Demir, Adem Aydin, Atilla Büyükgebiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Children
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/93
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author And Demir
Adem Aydin
Atilla Büyükgebiz
author_facet And Demir
Adem Aydin
Atilla Büyükgebiz
author_sort And Demir
collection DOAJ
description This review examines the inconsistent effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pollutants on pubertal timing, emphasizing the methodological challenges contributing to variability in findings. Data from nine key studies reveal that chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PFAS impact pubertal onset differently based on exposure timing, dosage, and sex. For instance, BPA is linked to earlier puberty in girls but delayed onset in boys, while other EDCs show mixed effects across populations. These discrepancies often arise from challenges in study design, such as the difficulty in establishing reliable control groups, accurately measuring exposures, and accounting for confounding factors like socioeconomic status, diet, and obesity. Sex-specific differences and environmental shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased indoor exposure and stress, further complicate the picture. These factors highlight the urgent need for more robust research methodologies, including standardized exposure assessments and longitudinal studies, to clarify the mechanisms driving these effects. Despite these challenges, the findings stress the importance of public health interventions, such as stricter EDC regulations, improved pollutant monitoring, and minimizing exposures during sensitive developmental windows. Addressing methodological gaps is crucial for producing reliable, actionable insights to protect adolescent development from the adverse effects of EDCs.
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spelling doaj-art-7d417c23a2184202967dbd604fe0b9e02025-01-24T13:27:17ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-01-011219310.3390/children12010093Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal TimingAnd Demir0Adem Aydin1Atilla Büyükgebiz2Pediatric Research Center, New Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital, 00290 Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, 35340 İzmir, TürkiyeDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Demiroğlu Bilim University, 34394 Istanbul, TürkiyeThis review examines the inconsistent effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pollutants on pubertal timing, emphasizing the methodological challenges contributing to variability in findings. Data from nine key studies reveal that chemicals such as BPA, phthalates, and PFAS impact pubertal onset differently based on exposure timing, dosage, and sex. For instance, BPA is linked to earlier puberty in girls but delayed onset in boys, while other EDCs show mixed effects across populations. These discrepancies often arise from challenges in study design, such as the difficulty in establishing reliable control groups, accurately measuring exposures, and accounting for confounding factors like socioeconomic status, diet, and obesity. Sex-specific differences and environmental shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increased indoor exposure and stress, further complicate the picture. These factors highlight the urgent need for more robust research methodologies, including standardized exposure assessments and longitudinal studies, to clarify the mechanisms driving these effects. Despite these challenges, the findings stress the importance of public health interventions, such as stricter EDC regulations, improved pollutant monitoring, and minimizing exposures during sensitive developmental windows. Addressing methodological gaps is crucial for producing reliable, actionable insights to protect adolescent development from the adverse effects of EDCs.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/93endocrine-disrupting compoundspandemicpubertypollutants
spellingShingle And Demir
Adem Aydin
Atilla Büyükgebiz
Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
Children
endocrine-disrupting compounds
pandemic
puberty
pollutants
title Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
title_full Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
title_fullStr Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
title_full_unstemmed Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
title_short Thematic Review of Endocrine Disruptors and Their Role in Shaping Pubertal Timing
title_sort thematic review of endocrine disruptors and their role in shaping pubertal timing
topic endocrine-disrupting compounds
pandemic
puberty
pollutants
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/1/93
work_keys_str_mv AT anddemir thematicreviewofendocrinedisruptorsandtheirroleinshapingpubertaltiming
AT ademaydin thematicreviewofendocrinedisruptorsandtheirroleinshapingpubertaltiming
AT atillabuyukgebiz thematicreviewofendocrinedisruptorsandtheirroleinshapingpubertaltiming