Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Environmental Exposure to Mercury, Cadmium, and Pyrethroid Pesticide and Its Association with Delayed Puberty in Children: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017

환경 중 수은, 카드뮴 및 피레스로이드계 살충제 노출과 아동의 사춘기 지연 간의 연관성: 제3기 국민환경보건기초조사(2015-2017)

  • Lee, Ju-Yeon (Department of Health and Safety Convergence Science, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Chae, Woo Ri (Department of Health and Safety Convergence Science, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Huh, Da-An (Institute of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Moon, Kyong Whan (Department of Health and Safety Convergence Science, College of Health Science, Korea University)
  • 이주연 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건안전융합과학과) ;
  • 채우리 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건안전융합과학과) ;
  • 허다안 (고려대학교 보건과학연구소) ;
  • 문경환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건안전융합과학과)
  • Received : 2021.05.31
  • Accepted : 2021.06.17
  • Published : 2021.06.30
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Abstract

Objectives: In many previous studies, endocrine disruptors (EDCs) have been found to affect delays in puberty. Various EDCs have been reported on, but there have been only limited epidemiologic studies on the effects of exposure to environmental heavy metals and pyrethroid pesticides on puberty delay. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association of exposure to environmental mercury, cadmium, and pyrethroid pesticides with delayed puberty in children based on national survey data that represents Korean children. Methods: We selected 450 children at the ages of 9-11 years old from the third Korean National Environmental Health Survey (3rd KoNEHS). The relations of urinary Hg, Cd, and 3-PBA with pubertal development were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Urinary Hg levels were significantly associated with delayed puberty in boys [testicle development: OR=0.41 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.84); genitalia development: OR=0.35 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.81)]. Girls with higher Hg levels were more likely to experience delayed menarche [OR=0.23 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.90)]. We observed a significant 49% reduction in odds for menarche per increasing unit of urinary cadmium levels [OR=0.51 (95% CI: 0.24, 1.01)]. In addition, urinary 3-PBA showed a negative association with genitalia development in boys and menarche in girls [genitalia development: OR=0.73 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.96); menarche: OR=0.56 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.00)]. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that exposure to environmental mercury, cadmium and pyrethroid pesticides may affect puberty delays. Additional evidence needs to be obtained through further prospective studies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 환경부 국립환경과학원 제3기 국민환경보건기초조사 자료를 제공받았으며(NIER-2017-01-01-001), 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행되었습니다(NRF-2019R1F1A1064259).

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