ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AMBIENTAL ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS AND PRECOCIOUS PUBERTY IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the available scientific evidence concerning the association between exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors and pubertal development in children and adolescents. The methodology employed consisted of an integrative literature review conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 protocol, with searches in the PubMed and BVS databases covering studies published between 2021 and 2026. At the end of the selection process, 20 articles that met the eligibility criteria were included. The main results found demonstrate a positive association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and atmospheric pollutants (PM2.5) with the occurrence of early thelarche and central precocious puberty, especially in females. The identified pathophysiological mechanisms involve hormonal mimicry, epigenetic modulation, and the participation of the gut-brain axis via microbial dysbiosis. It was found that the synergistic effect of chemical mixtures at low doses potentiates the early activation of the reproductive axis. Finally, the conclusions reinforce that the ubiquitous nature of these contaminants requires preventive environmental surveillance strategies and a reduction of the childhood exposome, highlighting the need for more longitudinal studies and in Latin American populations.