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Published on: October 31, 2019
Estrogenic activity of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment
Marina Isidori1, Maria Bellotta, Margherita Cangiano
1IC-REACH, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Seconda Università di Napoli, Via Vivaldi 43, I-81100 Caserta, Italy. marina.isidori@unina2.it
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.
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