Work

Ambient Air Pollution, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Pubertal Development: A Critical Review of Emerging Evidence

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Puberty is a sensitive period of endocrine development with lifelong implications for cardiometabolic and reproductive health. This review evaluates evidence linking ambient air pollution and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to pubertal development. Studies suggest that associations between air pollution and pubertal timing depend on pollutant composition, exposure timing, and exposure intensity. Component-level analyses of PM 2.5 implicate organic matter (OM) and sulfate fractions in associations with earlier menarche and precocious puberty, with OM enriched in combustion-derived PAHs. In contrast, high chronic PM 2.5 exposure has also been associated with delayed menarche in heavily polluted settings. Biomarker studies further support biological plausibility, associating PAH exposure to earlier breast development and disruption of hypothalamic kisspeptin–GnRH signaling. Evidence suggests that air pollution may alter pubertal timing through endocrine-disrupting mechanisms, with PAHs representing a plausible mechanistic pathway. Future studies should prioritize longitudinal cohorts, pollutant mixture analyses, and male populations.

Source: Current Environmental Health Reports

DOI: 10.1007/s40572-026-00552-8

Author: Alicia K. Peterson

Institutions: Kaiser Permanente, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Language: English

Topic: Air Quality and Health Impacts

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,990