Cumulative effects of in utero administration to mixtures of reproductive toxicants in the male rat: a systems biology framework

INTRODUCTION Although risk assessments are typically conducted on a chemical-by-chemical basis, regulatory agencies are beginning to consider cumulative risk of chemicals that act via a common mechanism of toxicity. It is well known that humans (1-8), fish (9-12), and wildlife (13) are continuously exposed to multiple contaminants. The chemicals found in some aquatic systems not only include pesticides (14,15) and industrial chemicals (13) but also include pharmaceuticals and hormones (16,17).