11-10-2022 04:23:47 The Greater China News Share
The image shows that hundreds of children in Hong Kong experience precocious puberty each year, but only a small number are referred to doctors for follow-up, a situation that is a cause for concern.
Severe light pollution and snacks containing hormones are two major culprits behind the precocious puberty of the new generation of children. “Alas! It's all my fault. I used to have curtains, but I neglected to put them up when we moved. My daughter is only 7 years old and she's developing early. Preliminary examination shows her bone age is 8, suspected to be precocious puberty. I'm very worried it's related to long-term light exposure at night and eating too many snacks,” said Mrs. Chan, blaming herself.
Paediatricians have pointed out that the cause of precocious puberty in some children cannot be found through testing, and it may be related to environmental hormones. Some studies suggest that prolonged exposure to strong light during sleep can affect children's development and even lead to early puberty. Parents should cultivate healthy eating habits and a regular lifestyle for their children from a young age, avoid consuming or being exposed to external hormones and environmental hormones, and eliminate everyday products containing plasticisers. (Reporting by Sheng Dewen and Huang Shan, The DaGongBao)
Hong Kong is a city that never sleeps, and also one of the regions with the most severe light pollution globally. According to a test study conducted by relevant organisations in conjunction with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in various districts between 2018 and 2020, the light levels in areas such as Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok, Flower Market Road and Carnarvon Road in Tsim Sha Tsui were found to exceed international standards by nearly 8 times and 4 times respectively. Light pollution is not only prevalent in bustling areas; many residential areas are also affected. Light pollution from corridors, streetlights, and commercial advertisements is equally serious, to the point where one can read a newspaper at home without turning on any lights.
Bedroom without curtains eats hormone-laced gummies
Mrs Chan told a reporter from the Tai Kung Pao: “My daughter is only in Year 1 of primary school. In May this year, I noticed unusual changes in my daughter's body and took her to see the family doctor. The doctor said that girls are now starting puberty earlier and earlier, advancing from 9 years old previously to 7 years old, so he referred us to a specialist.”
A few days later, Mrs. Chen took her daughter to see a specialist. The doctor questioned her anxiously, asking if her daughter had recently eaten a popular brand of gummy sweets. Mrs. Chen explained that it was only about a month prior that she had let her daughter try that type of gummy sweet. The doctor pointed out that although these sweets are very popular with children, most of them contain hormones, and frequent consumption can lead to precocious puberty.
After examination, it was found that Mrs Chen's daughter's bone age was 8 and her ovaries had also started to enlarge. “The doctor said that precocious puberty in girls is common nowadays. My daughter is just 7 years and 1 month old, and her development index is just on the cusp. It should be precocious puberty. However, there might be a false positive, so we need to observe for a few more months and have a follow-up appointment.”
After consulting with the doctor, Mrs. Chan learned that precocious puberty is not only related to hormones in food but also closely linked to environmental factors, such as the long-term use of products containing plasticisers and light pollution affecting sleep. After much deliberation, Mrs. Chan suspects that light pollution at night and the use of plastic tableware are related to her daughter's condition.
I used to be very bothered by light pollution at night and had curtains fitted. However, after moving house in the middle of last year, I neglected this for a while. My daughter's bed is directly opposite the building corridor, which is fitted with exposed fluorescent lights. It was brightly lit all night long, making the whole flat seem illuminated even without the lights on. Due to my carelessness and oversight, I didn't put curtains up in her bedroom for over nine months.“
Bright light reduces the brain's production of melatonin.
I've asked the doctor and checked relevant information, and found that if children are exposed to light stimulation for long periods during sleep, it can cause the brain to stop or reduce the production of melatonin, which prevents it from suppressing hormones in the body, making precocious puberty more likely.“
Mrs Chan immediately had thicker curtains installed in her daughter’s bedroom to block out bright light, replaced all plastic tableware with ceramic ones to reduce plastic use, and banned her daughter from eating related snacks. More than four months later, when Mrs Chan took her daughter for a follow-up appointment, she found her condition had stabilised. Only then did she manage to relax after months of worry.
Afterwards, other parents of schoolchildren told Mrs. Chan that a classmate of her second-grade daughter had also experienced breast development, and was noticeably taller than other girls in the same year. Friends also mentioned that their daughters' classmates experienced a sudden growth spurt in third or fourth grade, becoming the tallest girls in their year, but ten years later, they were still no taller than 1.5 metres, appearing short for their age. This indicated that precocious puberty had become common more than ten years ago.
Mrs. Chan hopes that her daughter's experience will remind parents that in addition to healthy eating, paying attention to children's snacks and reducing plastic use, they should also be aware of the impact of light pollution on children.
