In France, more than 3,800 cases of precocious puberty were diagnosed between 2011 and 2013. Endocrine disruptors are suspected to play a role.
When puberty becomes pathological … In France, nearly 1,300 children go through this period too early in their existence. 8 years for girls, 9 for boys: these are the limits of precocious puberty. For the first time, the French health authorities have quantified the extent of the phenomenon. Its magnitude is worrying.
For three years, the experts of Public health France looked at cases of precocious puberty, as part of investigations into the impact of endocrine disruptors. “The study is focused on health indicators for which the link with exposure to endocrine disruptors, in the broad sense, exists”, summarizes Sébastien Denis, director of the Health and Environment department at Public health France.
Gender imbalance
A wide range of substances can be implicated, such as cosmetics or certain metals… Precocious puberty, for its part, corresponds to a very concrete reality for children who suffer from it. One or more signs of puberty appear before normal age. This results in accelerated growth which leads to short stature in adulthood.
Young people affected by such a phenomenon are also more exposed to hormonal imbalances, with repercussions on weight, fertility but also the risk of diabetes or cardiovascular pathologies. However, the precocity of puberty is reaching an alarming level.
Within three years, 3,519 cases were diagnosed in girls and 352 in boys. “We do not have an explanation for this imbalance,” recognizes Sébastien Denis. Other more detailed work will have to provide more precise information on this subject.
A North-South gradient
In addition to these disparities between the sexes, a heavy geographical imbalance emerges. In the regions of Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) and Lyon (Rhône), precocious puberty is ten to twelve times more frequent. “We can clearly see the appearance of gradients on the maps,” emphasizes Sébastien Denis. We will endeavor to test different hypotheses. “
Source : Public health France
Several suspects
Exposure to endocrine disruptors is a “plausible” cause for this early development in the adult body. Cosmetics, heavy metals, plasticizers are omnipresent in the environment of children. Industrial emissions are also suspected.
But all these hypotheses must be confirmed within more detailed studies. Because the risk factors for precocious puberty are numerous. Among the accused is obesity, which affects 3% of children. Not to mention that a North / South gradient has already been observed : the closer we get to the Equator, the earlier the signs of ripening appear.
A strong expectation
In fact, these works provide a valuable general photograph for future studies. It makes it possible to target searches based on these observations. “We plan to develop geographic exposure indicators, linked to agricultural plots for example, in order to study the link that could exist between our observations and proximity to agricultural plots,” explains Sébastien Denis.
This work is eagerly awaited, both from the scientific community and the general public. “We are seeing both an increase in concerns and investments by agencies on these subjects,” confirms Sébastien Denis. The concern is justified. Not only is precocious puberty more prevalent, but infertility also tends to increase, as do male genital malformations.
The national plans on the links between health and the environment are to be welcomed. It is thanks to them that French dynamism is at work. “This shows that it is no longer possible to ignore these subjects,” says the director of the Health and Environment branch.
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