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Effects of pesticides used in agriculture on the development of precocious puberty

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Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of pesticides on premature breast development. Forty-five girls (group 1) with premature breast development living in the Menderes region, where greenhouse cultivation is the main income, 16 girls (group 2) living in Izmir city with early puberty, and 33 girls (group 3) who had no signs of puberty were included in the study. Endosulphan 1, endosulphan 2, endosulphan sulphate, methoxychlor, vinclozolin, 4,4-dichlorodiphenyldichlorethylene (DDE), 4,-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and 2,4-DDT were evaluated in the serum and adipose tissues of the groups by using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method. With the exception of 4,4′-DDE, the pesticides studied were undetectable in the serum and adipose tissue samples. The levels of basal luteinizing hormone (LH), stimulated LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and the long axis of the uterus and both ovaries were significantly different in the girls who had premature thelarche and detectable 4,4′-DDE levels compared to the girls who had premature thelarche and undetectable 4,4′-DDE levels in serum and adipose tissues. The presence and levels of pesticides in serum and adipose tissues were not related to precocious puberty (PP). The mechanisms that lead to PP may also result in obesity, and obesity may be the underlying cause for PP in this group.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Ege University Research Committee.

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The authors declare there is no conflict of interest in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ege University School of Medicine, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Samim Ozen, Sukran Darcan & Damla Goksen Simsek

  2. Department of Radiology, Ege University School of Medicine, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Petek Bayindir

  3. Center for Drug Resarch and Pharmacokinetic Applications, Ege University, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Ercument Karasulu

  4. Deparment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ege University School of Medicine, 35100, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Tahir Gurler

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  1. Samim Ozen
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  2. Sukran Darcan
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Ozen, S., Darcan, S., Bayindir, P. et al. Effects of pesticides used in agriculture on the development of precocious puberty. Environ Monit Assess 184, 4223–4232 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-2257-6

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