Exposure to heavy metals accelerates the ageing of women's ovaries
A recent study published in The Journal of Endocrinology & Metabolism suggested that exposure to heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, can have a direct effect on women's ovaries and lead to a reduced number of eggs in the ovaries as women near menopause. This study included 549 women with 2252 repeated measurements of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH, a marker of ovarian reserve) from 10 to 0 years before the final menstrual period. Women in the highest tertile of urinary arsenic or mercury concentrations had lower AMH concentrations at the final menstrual period, and higher urinary levels of cadmium and mercury were also associated with accelerated rates of decline in AMH over time.