Here we go again.
In 1996, Tulane University researcher Steven Arnold and crew published a study claiming that combinations of pesticides were up to 1,600 times more potent in estrogenic activity than the individual pesticides. At the time, I thought the study was probably nonsense. Then it got worse.
Researchers from around the world tried — but failed — to duplicate Arnold's results. After all, Arnold's research consisted only of laboratory experiments and real science — particularly when done in the laboratory — should be capable of being replicated. U.S. researchers reported their failure in Science. U.K. researchers reported their failure in Nature.
In the meantime, a new U.S. "food safety" law was enacted in 1996. The law provides that EPA set up a screening program to test pesticides for estrogenic activity. There is little doubt the Arnold study played a significant role in helping this new law into existence.
NOW, Arnold and crew have published a new study saying that they tested combinations of pesticides for estrogenic activity on alligator and human estrogen receptors. They report that pesticide combinations are 1.2 to 1.4 times more potent in estrogenic activity than individual pesticides alone.
Certainly a far cry from the factor of 1,600 reported last year. Even so, should we believe these results? At the very least, we'll have to wait for independent laboratories to verify Arnold's latest results — if they can!
I just hope Congress doesn't decide to pass any laws in the meantime.
Any bets on whether this research is replicated?
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