Study Finds That Pyrethroids Cause Early Puberty in Boys

We do everything we can to protect our children. As parents, we never want to put them at risk in any way. But you may be surprised at the side effects of pyrethroids, the active ingredient in many lice treatments. A study on eurekalert.org found that this active and common ingredient causes early sexual maturity in young boys.

Early Puberty Has Downsides

Speeding up the body’s puberty process has some negative effects including stunted growth, abnormal behavior, emotional problems, early sexual activity, stress and an increased risk for diseases in adulthood, according to, WebMD. Early puberty is becoming more common in children as they are exposed to pyrethroids in food, the environment and in products such as lice treatments.

What Is A Pyrethroid?

A pyrethroid is a chemical produced by the flowers of pyrethrums. It’s also an active ingredient in many household insecticides, pest control sprays, and lice treatments. Pyrethroids are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals that interfere with hormones in the body, therefore causing possible early puberty in children. Parents should be aware of the effects that pyrethroids can have on their child’s body.

Details Of The Study

According to the article, evidence of recent exposure to pyrethroids appears in human urine as a metabolite, or molecule called 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA).

Researchers conducted a study with 463 Chinese boys, ages 8-16 and they found that a 10 percent increase in 3-PBA was associated with a 4 percent increase in boys’ level of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Both these hormones spur production of testosterone in males.

“An increased level of urinary 3-PBA raised the odds of a boy being at an advanced stage of genital development by 73 to 110 percent.”

The Researchers then conducted a study on animals by identifying animals and how pyrethroids alter the timing of puberty. They exposed male mice to cypermethrin (a common pyrethroid) and observed an accelerated onset of puberty in the mice. They concluded that cypermethrin had a direct effect by inducing testosterone formation and interfering with intracellular processes that are critical to male sexual development. They then linked this same conclusion to human boys.

We are often exposed to pyrethroids in the environment or we consume them from crops that were sprayed and we can’t always avoid it. We can, however, avoid intentionally putting these chemicals on our child’s head. There are safe and effective alternatives to head lice treatment and we have them. Our lice removal options are top-of-the-line and have an incredible success rate. Don’t put your child at risk — use our revolutionary products!