As more children enter puberty earlier, a chemical compound called ambretta may play a role, according to a first-of-its-kind study from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Ambretta is found in a variety of scented products, such as personal care and cleaning products, as well as in some foods with artificial flavors.
Exposure to musk ambrette through products — for example, by inhaling it — may cause the brain to release puberty-related hormones, according to the study published in the journal Endocrinology. It’s the first research to look at how environmental chemicals may lead to early puberty, Dr. Natalie Shaw, a pediatric endocrinologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and co-senior author of the study, told NBC News.
However, much more research is needed to determine whether musk ambrette products are the driving force behind the trend of children entering puberty earlier and earlier. But there are still steps parents can take to reduce their children’s exposure.
Here you can find out everything you need to know about the research, musk ambrette and the products that contain it.
Puberty begins earlier in girls and boys
Research from 2020 shows that the average age at which girls enter puberty decreased by about three months every decade between 1977 and 2013. A 2012 study found that boys entered puberty between six months and two years earlier than previous research had suggested.
And a large study published in JAMA in May 2024, involving over 70,000 girls born between 1950 and 2005, found that the average age at which girls get their first period has decreased and, on average, it takes longer for periods to become regular.
The reason for the declining age at which children enter puberty has puzzled experts for years. Some have pointed to the rise in childhood obesity, unhealthier diets and exposure to phthalates, a substance added to plastics, but there is no evidence for this.
Shaw believes the rapid change in puberty onset is likely due to “environmental factors,” she told NBC News.
Early onset of puberty is associated with negative health outcomes, including increased risk of breast, uterine and testicular cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and mental health problems.
Musk ambrette may play a role in enhancing puberty, new research shows
To conduct the study, researchers examined over 10,000 compounds using a library of approved drugs, environmental chemicals and dietary supplements.
They found that ambrette, a synthetic form of musk, may be able to bind to a receptor in the brain associated with puberty, causing it to release the hormone GnRH, which influences the sexual maturation of organs and the production of sex hormones such as estrogen, testosterone and progesterone.
“The ability of these compounds to stimulate these brain receptors raises the possibility that they may prematurely activate the reproductive axis in children,” Shaw tells TODAY.com via email.
The researchers identified several types of chemicals that could affect puberty, including cholinergic agonists (a drug) and musk ambrette.
“Musk ambrette may be of concern to children because it is found in personal care products. A limited number of studies in rats also suggest that it can cross the blood-brain barrier. Children are less likely to be exposed to cholinergic agonists in their daily lives,” explains Shaw.
“It is important to conduct confirmatory studies in girls during early puberty, but these associations deserve more attention,” she adds.
What is musk ambrette?
Musk ambrette is a synthetic form of musk. It is often used to add fragrance to personal care and household products or as an aromatic food additive, Dr. Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumer Reports, tells TODAY.com.
The Flavor and Extract Manufacturer Association (FEMA), a major flavor trade group in the United States, does not give musk ambrette the “generally recognized as safe” designation. The European Union has banned the use of musk ambrette in cosmetics, and Canada has also restricted it.
“Exposure to (musk ambrette compounds) is also of concern because they can accumulate in human tissue,” explains Shaw. “Studies have detected these compounds in maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk, indicating potential risks to children.”
Which products contain musk ambrette?
A number of products in the US may contain musk ambrette. According to Hansen and Shaw, these include:
- Cleaning products
- Soap
- Air freshener
- Cleaning products
- Perfumes, especially cheap or counterfeit perfumes
- Essential oils
- Cosmetics and other perfumed personal care products such as shampoos, deodorants and shower gels
- Spices
- Some foods
“If I had to guess, I would guess that the majority of exposure (to musk ambrette) is through personal care products,” Hansen says. “Because it’s a fragrance, that means … you’re inhaling it. … That gets right into the mucous membranes (in the nose), which allow the chemicals to get to the brain much more easily.”
What can parents do?
Some experts say it is too early in the research to recommend that parents take steps to reduce their children’s exposure to musk ambrette, and that it would be premature to ban or restrict consumption based on this research.
But Shaw and Hansen agree that limiting children’s exposure to the chemical and its related compounds, such as musk xylene and musk ketone, can’t hurt. And Hansen says the research should ideally lead to follow-up studies examining exposure to musk ambrette in communities where puberty is more common.
In the meantime, Hansen recommends avoiding products that have “musk ambrette” on their ingredient list. However, be aware that some products that contain musk ambrette may only list it as a synthetic or natural fragrance or flavoring, Hansen adds.
So you may want to consider reducing the use of perfumed products in products where the fragrance is not necessary, such as lotions, shampoos and shower gels.
