title: Estrogenic activity of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment.
abstract: In the last years pharmaceuticals have aroused great interest as environmental pollutants for their toxic effects towards non target organisms. This study wants to draw attention to a further adverse effect of drugs, the endocrine interference. The most representative drugs of the widespread classes in environment were investigated. The YES-test and the E-screen assay were performed to detect the capability of these substances to bind the human estrogenic receptor alpha (hER alpha) in comparison with 17beta-estradiol. Out of 14 tested pharmaceuticals, 9 were positive to YES-assay and 11 were positive to E-screen assay; in particular, Furosemide and the fibrates (Bezafibrate, Fenofibrate and Gemfibrozil) gave the maximal estrogenic response. Tamoxifen showed its dual activity as agonist and antagonist of hER alpha.
authors.affiliation: IC-REACH, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy. marina.isidori@unina2.it
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isidori
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellotta
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cangiano
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parrella
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D004967:Estrogens; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical