Grantee Research Project Results
Environmental Exposures Related to Early Puberty
EPA Grant Number: R825816Title: Environmental Exposures Related to Early Puberty
Investigators: Wolff, Mary S. , Kabat, Geoffrey , Forman, Joel , Leleiko, Neal , Larson, Signe , Berkowitz, Gertrud S. , Godbold, James , Kase, Nathan
Current Investigators: Wolff, Mary S. , Kabat, Geoffrey , Forman, Joel , Britton, Julie , Leleiko, Neal , Hochman, Sarah , Larson, Signe , Kadlubar, Fred F. , Wetmur, James G. , Berkowitz, Gertrud S. , Godbold, James , Kase, Nathan , Serra, Nicole
Institution: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: January 16, 1998 through January 15, 2001
Project Amount: $380,482
RFA: Issues in Human Health Risk Assessment (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Justice , Human Health
Description:
The goal of this research is to investigate the potential effect of cumulative, multiple environmental exposures on onset of puberty, in particular early breast development. A secondary goal is to better understand racial/ethnic differences in environmental exposures and in onset of puberty. Our main hypothesis is that exposures to hormonally active environmental agents hasten onset of puberty, and specifically, that high levels of estrogenic organochlorines and low levels of dietary isoflavones are associated with earlier breast development. Ancillary hypotheses are that hormonally active environmental exposures are higher among girls from minority groups and that dietary isoflavone intake (potentially protective) is higher among Hispanics.Approach:
Healthy 9 yr-old girls will be studied, from each of three ethnic groups (African-American, Caucasian, Hispanic). Girls rather than boys are being studied because of interest in estrogenic exposures which may influence female puberty. In addition to pubertal staging, dietary intake and information on height, weight, physical activity as well as relevant perinatal risk factors including birth weight will be obtained. Biological samples will be analyzed for selected environmental estrogens.Expected Results:
We expect that environmental exposures will influence pubertal development independent of body mass, birth weight and other factors. We expect that earlier puberty will be associated with higher estrogenic exposures. It is also expected that girls from minority groups will have higher levels of organochlorines than Caucasian girls, on average, but Hispanic girls will have higher intake of protective dietary agents which can be antiestrogenic, and therefore lower Tanner stage than African-American girls.Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 6 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 2 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
puberty, environmental estrogens, development, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Genetics, Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry, endocrine disruptors, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Children's Health, genetic susceptability, Endocrine Disruptors - Human Health, health effects, risk assessment, puberty, interindividual variability, reproductive effects, childhood cancer, vulnerability, adolescents, adolescence, health risks, breast cancer, racial and ethnic differences, endocrine disrupting chemicals, age-related differences, gene-environment interaction, exposure, gender, fertility, human malformation, children, environmental mutagens, particle exposure models, human exposure, susceptibility, toxicity, cumulative environmental exposure, diet, environmental stressors, environmental toxicant, harmful environmental agents, toxic environmental contaminants, race ethnicity, biological markers, growth & development, reproductive health, toxicants, hispanics, isoflavones, developmental disorders, exposure assessment, cancer risk, age, genetic diversity, reproductiveProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.