Failure to confirm estrogenic activity for benzoic acid and clofibrate: implications for lists of endocrine-disrupting agents.
Earlier reports that benzoic acid is uterotrophic to the rat and mouse and that clofibrate is uterotrophic to the rat have not been confirmed. The studies reported here involved the use of a range of test protocols and dose levels, including the protocols/dose levels used by the original investigators. In addition, both chemicals were inactive in a human estrogen receptor (hER alpha) yeast estrogenicity assay. It is concluded that benzoic acid and clofibrate are not estrogenic in the assays used here. This conclusion has implications for the compilation of lists of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Ashby
J
J
Zeneca Central Toxicology Laboratory, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
Lefevre
P A
PA
Odum
J
J
Tinwell
H
H
Kennedy
S J
SJ
Beresford
N
N
Sumpter
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001565:Benzoates / Q000633:toxicity*; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000633:toxicity*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
D001565:Benzoates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004967:Estrogens; D005520:Food Preservatives; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D002994:Clofibrate