Precocious Puberty

[Guest guest]

The Problem of Precocious Puberty

 

Early sexual development, or precocious puberty, is a growing

problem around the world; and while endocrine disruptors and oestrogen

mimics are implicated, the medical profession generally regards this

trend as perfectly normal.

 

Extracted from Nexus Magazine,

Volume

11, Number 3 (April-May 2004)

PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia.

editor

Telephone: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381

From our web page at:

www.nexusmagazine.com

 

by Sherrill Sellman © 2004

GetWell International

PO Box 690416

Tulsa, OK 74169-0416, USA

Email:

golight

Website:

http://www.ssellman.com

 

 

 

CHILDREN BECOMING TEENS BEFORE THEIR TIME

Julianne is a devoted mother to her beautiful and healthy-looking

five-year-old daughter. But all was not as it seemed: something strange

was stirring in Sarah's body. One night, while putting Sarah to bed,

Julianne pulled her pyjama top over her daughter's head when Sarah

suddenly exclaimed, " Ouch! That hurt when you touched my

nipple. " Julianne was totally surprised by her daughter's response.

Upon taking a closer look, she noticed that her nipples did appear to be

different from what she had remembered. In fact, they looked bigger.

Julianne immediately called her paediatrician to schedule tests. The

results confirmed that Sarah was going through puberty. The small lumps

were, in fact, breast buds. Sarah's breasts were actually developing. But

she was only five years old! How could this possibly be?

The doctor explained that Sarah had a condition called " precocious

puberty " .

Julianne sat there in shock as the specialist informed her that the

medical community now considers eight years of age to be the normal age

for the beginning of puberty!

" While I always believed that little girls go through puberty at

around eleven, twelve or thirteen years of age, something very strange

was now happening to our daughters. I was now being told that little

girls are considered 'normal' if they start menstruating at the delicate

age of eight! "

But there is certainly nothing normal about an eight-year-old hormonally

fast-forwarding into puberty.

THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE

It's hard enough trying to keep little girls as little girls these

days. The teeny-bopper fascination with such sex symbols as Britney

Spears has little girls trying to act much older than they are. If

bearing the belly button in sexy midriff tops isn't enough to cause great

consternation to parents, then the growing phenomenon of budding breasts

and pubic hair certainly does. Discovering that their little girl has

breast buds or pubic hair is a tragic shock to parents.

Early sexual development­precocious puberty­seems to be happening

everywhere. It's a common sight these days to see nine- and ten-year-old

girls with developing breasts playing in the school playground. Something

is seriously amiss.

Presently, one girl out of six eight-year-olds in the USA, Australia and

Britain is racing into puberty. In fact, it is a pattern emerging in

young girls all over the world. Reports of early puberty have come from

many diverse countries and climates including Canada, Europe, Asia and

the Caribbean. This compares with one in 100 a generation ago.

Precocious puberty is a phenomenon not only occurring in girls; boys are

also experiencing their version of precocious puberty. Research published

in the journal Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found

that American boys appear to be beginning puberty earlier than in past

decades. A significant number of boys as young as eight had signs of

genital development some three years earlier than previous estimates.1 In

the UK, it is estimated that one in 14 eight-year-old British boys had

pubic hair, in contrast to one in 150 boys of the previous

generation.2

The onset of menstruation has been steadily getting earlier and earlier

in Western countries. It wasn't very long ago when a teenage girl's first

menstruation would arrive between the ages of fourteen and sixteen.

Today, the average age of the first menstruation is under twelve years of

age. For many girls, however, it is happening much earlier. In Britain,

50 per cent of ten-year-old girls are now menstruating.

A groundbreaking study in 1997 of 17,000 girls sent shock waves through

the medical community. The study found that the initial signs of puberty

were occurring earlier than previously recorded. The study found that 27

per cent of African-American and almost seven per cent of Caucasian girls

had the onset of secondary sexual characteristics, i.e., either breast

development or pubic hair development by age seven. By the time girls

turn eight years old, one in seven white girls and one out of two

Afro-American girls will be starting puberty! Even more startling was the

finding that one per cent of Caucasian and three per cent of

African-American girls show these characteristic by three years of

age!3

How common is this trend? " Young girls in the five- to ten- year-old

range with breasts and pubic hair­we encounter this every day in our

clinic, " says Michael Feemark, chief of paediatric endocrinology at

Duke University Medical Center in the USA.4 Similar findings were also

reported from a study of 14,000 children from Bristol University's

Institute of Child Health in the UK.5

The development of secondary sexual characteristics in girls is a

significant event, signalling the onset of physiological and

psychological changes of profound importance. Many scientists and doctors

are very concerned. This is not only a worrying trend but a very serious

public health problem. Before they have outgrown doll's houses, many

young girls are being faced with the confusing mood swings, hormonal

changes and sexual attention that accompany physical maturation.

The ramifications for public health are dramatic. Studies have found that

girls who reach puberty earlier tend to have sex earlier, have an

increased risk of pregnancy, experience more psychological stress, poor

mental health, more behavioural problems, and are more likely to drink,

smoke, have a lower IQ and commit suicide. For boys, it can mean more

aggressive, violent behaviour, learning disabilities and more drug and

alcohol abuse.

But the most disturbing consequence of early puberty in females is the

well-established risk for pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer as well

as ovarian cancer. According to a study published in Nature

(1989), the risk associated with having an early menstruation­for

instance, one that takes place at the age of ten­is approximately twice

that associated with a menstruation occurring at the age of sixteen.6 In

addition, girls showing early signs of puberty have increased risks of

polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual irregularities, acne, excessive

facial hair and infertility.

Early puberty in males can increase their incidence of testicular cancer,

lower fertility and impaired growth leading to shorter stature. A

researcher into precocious puberty, Dr Marcia Herman-Giddens, adjunct

professor of maternal and child health at the University of North

Carolina, said, " It's probably not healthy, since earlier studies

have shown that the sooner a boy starts puberty, the higher his risk is

of developing testicular cancer, just as early-maturing girls are at

greater risk of developing breast cancer " .7

 

THE SILENT INVASION

Since early puberty is a well-established risk for breast cancer, the

earlier a woman reaches puberty, the longer her breast tissues will be

exposed to potentially harmful agents (chemicals, radiation and

oestrogen).8 Even though a girl may begin menstruating, it is unusual for

her to be ovulating every month. Since ovulation is necessary for the

production of progesterone, early puberty is often a condition that

results in oestrogen production without the protective effects of

progesterone. This hormonal imbalance adds to a girl's body-burden of

oestrogen excess, putting her at increased risk of oestrogen-dependent

cancers and other hormonal problems.

It has been known for some time that the younger a woman is when she

starts her periods, the higher her risk of developing breast cancer later

in life. The younger a woman is, the longer her overall exposure to high

levels of oestrogens.

Dr Carlos Sonnenschein of the Tufts University School of Medicine warns

that " …the length and amount of exposure to oestrogen is one of the

most significant risk factors in breast carcinogenesis. Unless you are

exposed to oestrogens, you don't get breast cancer. The longer the

exposure is, the higher the incidence. Therefore, if you decrease the age

of the first menstruation, you are at higher risk " .9

The experts are confused. It is absurd to think that early puberty is the

result of better nutrition, as many scientists assert. One connection is

that it seems to be linked with obesity. An increase in obesity in

children and lack of exercise has a direct relationship to this problem.

Since the 1960s, the number of overweight kids and adolescents in the

United States has nearly doubled. Today, 10 per cent of two-to

five-year-olds and more than 15 per cent of children between the ages of

six and nineteen are overweight.10 Childhood obesity is also a major

public health concern throughout the world including in Australia, New

Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Italy and Canada.11

One explanation looks at a protein called leptin that encourages early

breast development. Leptin is produced from fat cells and is necessary

for the progression of puberty. So, the more fat cells, the more leptin

is produced by the body. In addition, overweight girls have more insulin

circulating in their blood. High levels of insulin stimulate the

production of sex hormones such as oestrogen, adding to an oestrogen

excess.

Is it just the fast foods and sedentary lifestyle that are piling up the

leptin-producing fat? Perhaps not.

A 20-year study found that the greater the prenatal level of the hormone

disruptor polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs), the heavier the girls were at

age fourteen and their puberty was statistically earlier.12

Could prenatal exposure to hormone disruptors play a role in obesity? A

study based on this idea was conducted by Dr Walter Rogan, an

epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Heath Sciences.

He chose 600 pregnant women and measured the levels of chemicals in their

bodies; then, when their babies were born, the researchers measured the

chemicals in the mothers' breast milk, and finally, the children were

monitored as they grew into puberty. What was found was that boys exposed

to DDE and girls exposed to PCBs were heavier than their unexposed peers

were. The study also found that girls with high prenatal PCB exposure

tended to hit the first stages of puberty a bit earlier.13

In fact, the most significant guilty party is looking more and more like

endocrine disruptors. Circulating around the world are thousands of these

endocrine-disrupting chemicals which are now found everywhere­in our

food, water and the air we breathe.

Events occurring in Puerto Rico have helped unravel this puzzling trend.

For the past two decades, Puerto Rico has recorded the highest known

incidence of premature breast development. It was discovered that girls

as young as two years of age were developing breasts. Several

reasons have been cited for this situation. First of all, most of these

children were fed soy infant formulas. A 1997 Lancet study showed

that soy has plant-based chemicals that mimic oestrogen, displaying a

wide range of hormonal activities. The daily exposure in infants who

consumed soy formulas was 6 to 11 times higher than in adults who

consumed soy foods. In fact, the blood concentrations of these hormones

in the children were 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than oestrogen levels

normally found in the blood!14

Clues have also emerged, implicating endocrine disruptors. In a

significant study, the early breast development of the Puerto Rican

children was linked to exposure to phthalates, a ubiquitous chemical

plasticiser. The researchers measured the presence of certain phthalates

in the blood of 41 girls experiencing early breast development and made

comparisons with a control group. The average age was 31 months. They

found that 68 per cent of the precocious puberty girls had high levels of

phthalates in their blood.15

Phthalates have infiltrated our world. They are in common industrial

chemicals that make plastics flexible without sacrificing strength or

durability. They are found in building materials, food packaging and food

wrap, toys and other children's products, medical devices, garden hoses,

shoe soles, automobile undercoating, wires and cables, carpet backing,

carpet tiles, vinyl tiles, swimming pool liners, artificial leather,

canvas tarpaulins, notebook covers, tool handles, dishwasher baskets,

flea collars, insect repellents, skin emollients, hairsprays, nail polish

and perfumes.

John Peterson " Pete " Myers, co-author of Our Stolen

Future, agrees. " Contamination in the womb can speed or retard

sexual development, " Myers said. " These compounds interfere

with hormones that control the pace and pattern of

development. " 16

Chemicals that are suspected of having effects on sexual development

include bisphenol-A and polybrominated biphenyls, chemicals found in

plastic, and phthalates, which are found in cosmetics.17

Hormone disruptors, like silent saboteurs, have invaded the highly

sensitive endocrine systems of our children. Whether from toxins in the

environment, or hormone-laden meat and dairy products or chemical-laced

foods and household products, exposure to dangerous chemicals has reached

a level unprecedented in the entire history of human civilisation. Is

there any wonder why precocious puberty is a worldwide phenomenon?

The fact that early puberty is a known risk factor for breast cancer

should be of great concern to all parents, and all possible precautions

must be taken to safeguard children from unnecessary exposure. No one

really knows the long-term consequences of early sexual development. This

is an unprecedented experiment on our children.

Hardly a minute goes by without our being exposed to some chemical. It

may be from car exhaust, room freshener, artificial fragrances, a

McDonald's hamburger and Coke, baby shampoo, dry cleaning, coloured

popcorn, furniture polish, the fire retardant on new school clothes,

plastic water bottles, dry cleaning, fly spray, and on and on it goes.

Beginning in utero, our children are accumulating chemicals

in their bodies little by little, day in and day out, for years and

years. For some children, the effects may become evident quickly; for

others, it may take many years or decades before the real harm­the

cancers, the multiple sensitivities, the behavioural problems, the

learning disabilities and the infertility­becomes apparent.

 

HORMONES IN THE FOOD SUPPLY

Commercial beef and pasteurised dairy products consistently have the

highest levels of persistent hormone disruptors. As of 1995, the US Food

and Drug Administration allowed the use of implanted hormonal agents for

raising beef cattle. These include the female hormones oestradiol and

progesterone, the synthetic progesterone norgestomet, the male hormone

testosterone and the synthetic anabolic steroids trenbolene and Zeranol.

Growth agents that do not have to be implanted include a progestin that

can be added to the animals' feed. Animals given these hormonal agents

are not required to go through a withdrawal period prior to slaughter.

Indeed, the FDA does not require mandatory recording of medication or

treatment of animals destined for our plates.

Three natural hormones (oestradiol-17ß, testosterone and progesterone)

and two synthetic substances (trenbolone and Zeranol) are also approved

for use in many other countries, including Australia, Canada and New

Zealand.

Hormones in beef have serious oestrogenic and carcinogenic

effects­effects which the cancer establishment, the FDA and the cattle

industry have been well aware of for decades. Yet the real dangers they

pose, especially when it comes to women and breast cancer, have remained

in the shadows until only recently.18 (Non-organic meats like pork, veal,

lamb and poultry, although uncontaminated by sex hormones, contain

pesticides and a wide range of veterinary drugs.)

Not surprisingly, a random survey in 1986 found that up to half of all

cattle sampled in feedlots in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska and

Oklahoma had hormone pellets illegally implanted in muscle tissue rather

than under the ear. This practice led to higher absorption of hormones

from the implants and very much higher residues that even the FDA

admitted could have " adverse effects " .19

According to Dr Samuel Epstein, Professor of Occupational and

Environmental Medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public

Health: " Records of hormone levels in beef, obtained under the

Federal Freedom of Information Act from the FDA, show that even when

ranchers implant single hormone pellets beneath the ear skin under ideal

laboratory conditions, levels of oestradiol and other hormones in meat

and organs are more than triple the levels found in non-implanted

controls. Much higher levels, up to three-hundred-fold, result from the

common practice of illegal intramuscular implants… " 20

Cattle today are receiving a lot more hormones than ever before. In 1990,

the FDA ruled in favour of doubling the dose of hormones allowed in

cattle. As a result of this new ruling, some feedlots now put implants in

each ear for more bulk at a faster rate. This is because feedlots are

paid by weight for their product.21

The FDA's reports in hormonal implants give us cause to worry. In 1983,

the FDA found that Synovex-S, a product containing oestradiol and

progestin, increased oestradiol concentrations in cattle muscle by

twelvefold, in liver by sixfold, in kidneys by ninefold and in fat by

twenty-three-fold. When cattle are slaughtered following implantation,

levels are even higher. With multiple implants, they are higher still;

with intramuscular implants, yet even higher. Some hormones are fed to

cattle in feedlots.22

The extent to which hormonal meat contributes to increased rates of

breast cancer, apart from cancer of the uterus, prostate and testes, has

been virtually ignored. Hormonal beef may also have another

endocrine-disruptive side effect: early puberty.

It comes as no surprise that the European Union has banned the

importation of hormone-treated US beef. Americans, unfortunately, are

getting a pharmacopoeia of steroid drugs every time they chow down a

hamburger or hot dog. For children, eating hormone-laced meat on a

regular basis seriously increases their oestrogen exposure.

It should be obvious by now that organically raised meat is the only safe

meat to eat. Free of chemicals, sprayed feed, antibiotics and

hormone-injected growth stimulators, organic, grass-fed beef is by

far healthier and more nutritious than the commercial kind.

What about poultry and fish? With the use of growth promoters and

antibiotics in the poultry industry, organic chickens and turkeys

are, without doubt, the safer option.

Fish has always been considered a healthy alternative to meat.

Unfortunately, it is getting harder and harder to find clean fish, either

freshwater or ocean. Freshwater fish appear to be among the most heavily

contaminated of foods. Top predator fish, like pike and walleye, are

likely to be contaminated with heavy metals like mercury­a hormone

disruptor. Farmed salmon are raised on various drugs, chemicals and

hormones, and shellfish often concentrate cadmium­another

endocrine-disrupting heavy metal. (Diets high in adequate calcium,

protein, iron and zinc help protect against cadmium absorption). The very

best fish to eat are deep-sea fish such as halibut, non–fish farm salmon,

sardines, cod and mackerel.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

With the red flags waving, you would think that the medical

profession would be leading the charge against contamination and exposure

to hormone-disrupting chemicals. After all, they are in the trenches,

daily witnessing the rising number of children with precocious puberty.

Surely they should be the ones jumping up and down and yelling and

screaming the loudest for something to be done.

It is therefore rather shocking that a report by a nationwide network of

physicians headquartered in California suggested that it is perfectly

normal for Caucasian girls as young as seven and black girls as young as

six to start developing breasts!23 Perfectly normal?

Instead of facing up to the implications of what is contributing to this

aberration and leading the charge for immediate investigation into the

causes and solutions, the medical community prefers to ignore a looming

tragedy. They have redefined what is considered normal to reflect current

trends.

By claiming that nothing is wrong, no fingers are pointed, no accusations

are laid and no one is held accountable. Industries and corporations can

merrily continue going about their business of contaminating and

polluting.

Presently, the only treatment for precocious puberty available from

traditional medical doctors is the dangerous drug, Lupron. According to

the Physicians' Desk Reference, Lupron has 265 possible risks and

side-effects, including cancer. Lupron can cause severe problems such as

tremors, seizures and memory loss.

The FDA has received a wide range of reports of serious side-effects,

including death, suspected to be associated with the use of Lupron.

However, the agency asserts that the drug's benefits outweigh the risks,

and does not believe there is sufficient proof to blame Lupron. (For more

information, visit the National Lupron Victims Network at the website

http://www.lupronvictims.com/

..)

There are ways to help children either slow the development of precocious

puberty or even possibly reverse this condition.

Holistic healing modalities such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM),

naturopathy, homoeopathy, chiropractic and other holistic medical

approaches have been able to help children get their hormonal health back

on track, thus reducing some of the physiological dysfunctions

contributing to early development.

In addition to having a high body-burden of endocrine-disrupting

chemicals, children with precocious puberty tend to have compromised

digestive systems, candida from overuse of antibiotics, food allergies,

nutritional deficiencies, over-burdened livers and heavy metal toxicity.

 

The earlier this problem is identified, the greater the success of

reversing the signs of puberty. Unfortunately, orthodox medicine has no

answers nor solutions and can only address the problem by prescribing

powerful, toxic drugs that turn off the endocrine system.

In addition, all external sources of hormones and hormone-mimicking

chemicals should be avoided. These include non-organic meat, pasteurised

dairy products, sugar and refined carbohydrates, junk food, agricultural

and industrial chemicals, and all commercial household cleaning products

and personal care products (suntan lotion, shampoos, bubble baths,

moisturisers, etc.). Our bodies, our homes, our gardens and our schools

should be made chemical-free zones.

Precocious puberty is a perilous experiment of 21st-century living,

making children teens before their time. However, with vigilance,

education and the commitment to making healthy changes, our children's

endocrine well-being and their future health can be ensured.

GUIDELINES FOR REDUCING EXPOSURE TO OESTROGEN DISRUPTORS

1. Eliminate any pesticide, herbicide and insecticide use on lawns and

gardens. Even some commercial composts may be contaminated with

chemicals. Effective organic products are available, or learn to make

your own pest control formulas. Make your own organic compost.

2. Lobby in your community to stop the spraying of hormone-disrupting

chemicals in and around schools and city properties.

3. Make as much of your diet organic as possible. This will eliminate the

toxic, hormone-disrupting chemicals that are sprayed on fruits and

vegetables. Also, buy organic meat, poultry, dairy foods and butter that

are free of steroid hormones and antibiotics. Organic foods have been

found to contain higher amounts of vitamins and minerals.24 Be aware that

the following commercially grown fruits and vegetables have been found by

the Environmental Working Group to contain the highest levels of

pesticide contamination: spinach, strawberries, apricots, cantaloupe,

green beans, peaches, bell peppers, celery, cucumbers, cherries and

grapes.

Glutamine-rich foods help the liver remove environmental waste and give

protection against pollution: broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous

vegetables, asparagus, spinach, watermelon, pears, squash and potatoes.

Allylsulphide-containing foods like garlic, shallots, onions and chives

stimulate glutathione production. Miso, fermented soybean paste and

seaweed remove pollution and radiation from the body.

4. Thoroughly wash non-organic fruits and vegetables with either a fruit

and vegetable wash available at health food stores, or soak them in an

apple cider vinegar and water bath.

A Clorox bath is most effective and inexpensive for removing bacteria,

parasites, pesticides and other contaminants from food. Add a teaspoon of

Clorox to one gallon (3.785 litres) of water. Soak leafy vegetables and

thin-skinned fruit (berries, plums, peaches, etc.) for 15 minutes; root,

thick-skinned or fibrous vegetables and thick-skinned fruits (oranges,

bananas, apples) and poultry, fish and eggs for 20 minutes.

Frozen meats (not ground meat) can be thawed in a Clorox bath for about

20 minutes for up to five pounds (2.267 kilograms) of frozen meat. Remove

the foods from the Clorox bath, place them in clear water for 10 minutes,

and rinse. Dry all foods thoroughly and store. Warning: use only Clorox,

and no other brand of bleach, since it does not contain any

chlorine.

5. Use organic personal care products. Most deodorants, shampoos,

sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products contain carcinogenic

or toxic chemicals. According to a US General Accounting Office Report:

" Cosmetics are being marketed in the United States which may pose a

serious hazard to the public. Over 2,983 chemicals used in cosmetics…and

one-third (884) of these ingredients have been reported as toxic

substances… "

6. Don't let children chew on soft plastic toys. Phthalates are added to

soften PVC plastic toys. These plastic toys also retain any pesticides

sprayed in the house for up to two weeks. Buy unfinished wood or natural

fibre toys.

7. Avoid lice and scabies shampoos containing lindane and synthetic

pyrethroid. Lindane has been shown to promote tumour growth the same way

oestrogen did.

8. Teach your children to wash their hands frequently and not to lick

their fingers or bite their nails. Since chemicals inevitably get

deposited on surfaces, frequent cleaning with organic cleaning products

is a safe, preventive measure.

9. Whenever possible, avoid buying canned foods or foods wrapped in

plastic. Make sure you remove foods from packaging as soon as possible.

Use glassware for oven cooking. (Note that using microwave ovens is not

advised; however, if you must use one, make sure you use only glass

cookware.)

10. Carefully read the labels of foods, personal care products, household

cleaners, cosmetics, lawn and garden supplies and pet supplies. Become

familiar with the dangerous chemicals found in such products and be

willing to buy other, safe brands.

11. Install a water filter. Pesticides, other chemicals, rotting leaves

and other debris combine in drinking water. Heavy metals from household

pipes and plumbing can be an added concern.

12. Use plants for filtering chemicals from the air in your home. Even

chemicals emitted from new carpets or curtains can be filtered by common

household plants. For instance, Boston ferns can detoxify 1,000

micrograms of formaldehyde from the air in one hour.25

13. Get exercise. Sweating eliminates all kinds of chemicals that would

otherwise be eliminated through the body's other excretory organs (the

kidneys and bowel).

14. Avoid pet products such as flea collars and washes which contain

toxic substances which are dangerous to animals but also get transferred

to pet owners.

 

About the Author:

Dr Sherrill Sellman, ND, is the author of the best-selling books

Hormone Heresy: What Women MUST Know About Their Hormones (GetWell

International, 1996, 2001, 4th edition) and MOTHERS: Prevent Your

Daughters From Getting Breast Cancer, as well as an international

lecturer and women's health advocate. To to her free monthly

newsletter, go to

http://www.ssellman.com.

Sherrill will facilitate a Women's Rejuvenation Retreat in Australia in

November 2004; call 1800 644 733 in Australia for details.

 

 

Footnotes:

1. Herman-Giddens, Marcia E., Wang, Lily and Koch, Gary, " Secondary

Sexual Characteristics in Boys: Estimates From the National Health and

Nutrition Examination Survey III, 1988–1994 " , Arch Pediatr Adolesc

Med, Sep 2001; 155:1022-1028

2. Golding, J., Pembrey, M. and Jones, R., " ALSPAC Study Team " ,

Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2001 Jan;15(1):74-87

3. Herman-Giddens, M.E., Slora, E.J., Wasserman, R.C., Bourdony, C.J.,

Bhapkar, M.V., Koch, G.G. and Hassemeir, C.H. (1997), " Secondary

sexual characteristics and menses in young girls seen in office practice:

a study from the Pediatric

Research Office Settings Network " , Pediatrics 99(4):505-512

4. Lemonick, M.D. (2000), " Teens Before Their Time " , Time

Magazine, October 30, 2000,

pp. 66-74

5. Golding, Pembrey and Jones, ibid.

6. Environmental News Network,

 

http://www.enn.com/news/enn-stories/2001

7. Herman-Giddens, Wang and Koch, ibid.

8. Bueckert, Dennis, " Hormone-treated Beef Thought To Trigger

Puberty Sooner " , Canadian Press, August 2, 1999,

http://www.cp.org

9. Berkson, D. Lindsey, Hormone Deception, Contemporary Books, Chicago,

Illinois, p. 108

10.

 

http://preventdisease.com/news/

articles/overweight_obese_growing_rate_us.shtml

11. Booth, M.L., Wake, M., Armstrong, T., Chey, T., Hesketh, K. and

Mathur, S., " The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among

Australian children and adolescents, 1995–97 " , Aust NZ J Public

Health 2001 Apr;25(2):162-9

12. Lemonick, ibid.

13. Lemonick, ibid.

14. Setchel, K.D., Zimmer-Nechemias, L., Cai, J. and Heubi, J.E.,

" Exposure in infants to phyto-oestrogens from soy-based infant

formula " , Lancet 1997 Jul; 350(9070):23-27

15. Colón, I., Caro, D., Bourdony, C. J. and Rosario, O. (2000),

" Identification of phthalate esters in the serum of young Puerto

Rican girls with premature breast development " , Environmental Health

Perspectives 108:895-900.

16.

 

http://www.mindfully.org/Health/

Early-Onset-Puberty.htm

17. ibid.

18. Epstein, Dr Samuel, The Breast Cancer Prevention Program, Macmillan,

New York, NY, 1997, p. 193

19. ibid., p. 194

20. ibid., p. 196

21. ibid., p. 194

22. Berkson, ibid., p. 209

23.

 

http://www.caresfoundation.org/endosoc.html

24. " Organic food has more healthy compounds " , March 11, 2003,

 

http://www.planetark.com/

dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/20112/story.htm

25.

 

http://www.bsu.edu/web/IEN/archives/

2000/090700.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.23/243 - Release 1/27/2006