In various studies phthalates have been linked to birth defects, infertility, early puberty, asthma, ADHD, obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
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In fact, more than 200 studies link BPA exposure to breast and prostate cancer, cardiac disease, diabetes and early puberty.
And that's not all: "Fat brings on puberty earlier and early puberty is a risk factor for breast cancer, " Weiss said.
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Critics of the use of biocides say they may be responsible for various conditions including a rise in cancer, and early puberty amongst girls.
Boys are more likely than girls to have an underlying physical cause for early puberty, but boys in this study were most likely free of any physical conditions that might explain the results, said lead author Marcia Herman-Giddens, a researcher at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
FORBES: Study Shows that Early Puberty is Now Affecting Boys, Just Like Girls
Their findings may not be entirely conclusive because they did not test immigrant children who had not started puberty early for pesticides.
But these possible factors do not explain why someone as young as Taylor, who is not overweight and did not hit puberty early got breast cancer in her teens.
The team, led by Jean -Pierre Bourguignon from the University of Liege, discovered that children emigrating to other European countries also had an increased tendency to begin puberty early.
In particular the group is concerned that children will not be taught about sexual reproduction and puberty early enough - and that some will already be experiencing changes in their bodies before they have been taught about them.
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Dr Sigman, whos reported was commissioned by Clearasil, said it was important for parents to be aware that puberty might arrive early for their daughters, and to try to talk to them in advance about the changes they would experience.
Researchers have found signs of puberty in American boys up to two years earlier than previously reported age 9 on average for blacks, 10 for whites and Hispanics (puberty is considered early in boys if it occurs by age 9 or earlier) .
FORBES: Study Shows that Early Puberty is Now Affecting Boys, Just Like Girls
Early detection in boys can help prevent problems from delayed puberty.
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