Surprise finding on puberty in girls; study says chemical in food may delay growth
The Seattle Times
By Lindy Washburn
from The Record (Hackensack N.J)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2016687769_puberty07.htmlHACKENSACK, N.J. — Researchers studying the environmental causes of early puberty detected hormone-disrupting chemicals in four out of five healthy New Jersey girls, but evidence shows the substances don't necessarily promote early development.
The Jersey Girl Study at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey is among the first to look at the effects on healthy girls of Zeranol, a synthetic chemical used to boost meat production, and its natural form, zearalenone, a fungus found in contaminated grains. These fungi mimic estrogen in the body.
The results suggest that they may delay height growth and breast development in girls — contrary to what researchers expected to find, said Dr. Elisa Bandera, an epidemiologist and the study's lead researcher.
