Estrogen receptor pesticide binding

An initial report (Arnold et al. 1996) that binary mixtures of hydroxylated PCBs and weakly estrogenic pesticides (dieldrin, endosulfan, toxaphene, and chlordane) resulted in synergistic increases in estrogen receptor binding and reporter gene-expression in transfection-facilitated yeast and endometrial... 

Though no pesticide or other chemical impacts all six processes, it is very clear that simultaneous exposures to multiple pesticides can have greater effects than those expected from exposures to single pesticides alone. For example, alachlor and atrazine are two herbicides that are applied together to cornfields in Nebraska [7]. Alachlor binds to and activates the estrogen receptor [8]. Atrazine interferes with hormone synthesis [9]. In the Nebraska study cited, the two herbicides were also mixed with seven other pesticides and induced reproductive effects in reptiles far in excess of those predicted by a consideration of the individual species [7]. 

---