研究顯示 精油會造成男性乳房發育症大綱

A suspected link between abnormal breast growth in young boys and the use of lavender and tea tree oils has been given new weight, after a study found eight chemicals contained in the oils interfere with hormones.

一項研究發現，精油中含有8種會干擾荷爾蒙的化學物質，這讓年輕男孩乳房發育異常與使用薰衣草精油和茶樹精油有關的疑慮有所加重。

Gynaecomastia is rare, and there is often no obvious cause. But there have been a number of cases linked to use of these essential oils.

男性乳房發育症很少見，常常沒有明顯的原因。但是現在有很多案例都發現與使用這些精油有關。

The American study found that key chemicals in the oils boost oestrogen and inhibit testosterone.

這項美國的研究發現，這些精油中的關鍵化學物質能促進雌激素和抑制睾酮。

Not everyone will have the same reaction to an essential oil.

不是每個人都會對精油有同樣的反應。

The plant-derived oils are found in a number of products such as soaps, lotions, shampoos and hair-styling products. They're also popular as alternative cleaning products and medical treatments.

植物衍生的精油存在於許多產品中，如肥皂、洗液、洗髮水和美髮產品。它們也經常被用來替代清潔產品和醫療護理。

Lead researcher J. Tyler Ramsey from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), in North Carolina, suggested caution when using the oils.

來自北卡羅萊納州國立環境健康科學研究所的首席研究員J·泰勒·拉姆塞建議使用這些精油時要小心謹慎。

"Our society deems essential oils as safe. However, they possess a diverse amount of chemicals and should be used with caution because some of these chemicals are potential endocrine disruptors."

“我們的社會認爲精油是安全的，這些精油中的確含有多種化學物質，應謹慎使用，因爲這些化學物質中有一些是潛在的內分泌干擾物。”

A growing number of reported cases of male gynaecomastia have coincided with topical exposure to the oils. After they stopped using the products, the symptoms subsided.

有越來越多的男性乳房發育症病例被報道有精油的身體局部接觸史。在他們停止使用這些產品後，相關症狀就消退了。

"Lavender oil and tea tree oil pose potential environmental health concerns and should be investigated further," said Mr Ramsey.

拉姆塞表示：“薰衣草精油和茶樹精油對環境健康有潛在的影響，應該進一步展開調查。”