Prenatal exposure to mercury and precocious puberty: a prospective birth cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Study question

Is in utero exposure to mercury associated with the risk of precocious puberty?

Summary answer

Prenatal exposure to high levels of mercury was associated with increased risk of precocious puberty, which was strengthened by concomitant maternal cardiometabolic conditions and adverse birth outcomes.

What is known already

The developing fetus is sensitive to mercury, a well-known endocrine disruptor which impacts the endocrine and reproductive system.

Study design, size, duration

This study included 1512 mother-child pairs from the Boston Birth Cohort, a longitudinal cohort which recruited at birth and followed prospectively up to 21 years of age.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Mother-child pairs, from a predominantly urban minority

SUBMITTER: Wang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7891807 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature