Exposure to non-persistent pesticides and puberty timing: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence

Abstract

Background: Numerous modern non-persistent pesticides have demonstrated es trogenic/anti-androgenic activity and have been classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs ). Processes involved in puberty development are vulnerable to EDCs, such as compounds that interfere with the m etabolism or activity of sex steroids. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of epidemiological studies on t he relationship between early-life exposure to non-persistent pesticides and puberty timing and/or sexual matu ration in girls and boys. Methods: A systematic search was carried out using MEDLINE and SCOPUS d atabases, including original articles published up to November 2020. Results: Thirteen studies were selected after excluding non-original an d non-human studies. Exposure to different types of pesticides has been associated with altered puberty ti ming in girls and/or boys in eight studies. In utero exposure to atrazine has been related to earlier age of menarch e in girls; exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides has been related to delayed sexual development in bo ys and girls; childhood pyrethroid exposure has been associated with pubertal delay in girls and pubertal advan cement in boys; and prenatal/childhood exposure to multiple pesticides has been linked to earlier puberty onset in girls and pubertal delay in boys. Conclusions: Most of the reviewed studies describe a relationship between p esticide exposure and changes in the age of puberty onset or sex hormone levels, although the quality of the evidence is generally low. Further well-designed longitudinal studies are warranted on specific classes of pestic ides and on possible interactions between different types of compounds.