Spanish study links pesticide exposure to changes in menarche age

A cohort study of 506 Spanish girls aged 7 to 10, conducted in Asturias, Guipúzcoa, Sabadell and Valencia and followed until ages 14‑16, found that higher urinary levels of certain fungicide residues were associated with an earlier onset of the first menstrual period. In contrast, exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos was linked to a delayed menarche.

The research, coordinated by the University of Granada and the University of Valencia as part of the INMA (Childhood and Environment) birth‑cohort project, was published in the journal Environmental Research. The investigators highlighted that these pesticides act as endocrine disruptors, with the main route of exposure being food, especially fruits and vegetables produced by conventional agriculture. The findings underscore the potential public‑health implications of early‑life pesticide exposure on puberty timing.