Hormonally-active compounds were found in young girls

Abstract of Pilot Study

In a pilot study of young girls in 3 US cities, a wide spectrum of hormonally-active compounds were found, some at relatively high concentrations. Eighteen of 25 measured compounds were found in at least 94% of subjects. Phytoestrogens as a group had the highest levels and were most frequently found; phthalates were intermediate. Four phytoestrogens, four phthalates and two phenols had maximum values above 1 ppm.

Background: Hormonally active environmental agents have been measured among U.S. children using exposure biomarkers in urine. However, little is known about their variation by race, age, sex and geography, and no data exist for newly developed biomarkers.

Objective: To characterize relevant, prevalent exposures for a study of female pubertal development.

Methods: In a pilot study among 90 girls from New York City, Cincinnati, and northern California, we measured 25 urinary analytes representing 22 separate agents from three chemical families: phytoestrogens, phthalates, and phenols. Exposures occur chiefly from the diet and from household or personal care products.

Conclusions: A wide spectrum of hormonally active exposure biomarkers were detectable and variable among young girls, with high maximal concentrations (>1000 ug/L) found for several analytes. They varied by characteristics that may be relevant to development.