The present study demonstrates the estrogenic effects of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs). In a yeast two-hybrid assay, treatment with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctan-1-ol (6:2 FTOH), 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluoro-decan-1-ol (8:2 FTOH) and 2,2,3,3,4,-4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,10-nonadecafluoro-1-decanol (NFDH) showed a dose-dependent interaction between the human estrogen receptor (hER) isoforms hERa a or hERb b ligand-binding domain and coactivator TIF2, whereas there were no estrogenic effects of

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... octane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for these hERs. The estrogenic effects of FTOHs on hERa a were higher than those on hERb b, indicating a differential responsiveness of hERs to FTOHs. The relative ranks of tested chemicals on the estrogenic effects for hERa a and hERb b descended in the order of estradiol-17b bϾ Ͼ Ͼ6:2 FTOHϾ NFDHϾ8:2 FTOH. These results suggest that certain FTOHs including 6:2 FTOH, 8:2 FTOH and NFDH interact with hER isoforms a a and b b in vitro. Further studies are necessary to investigate contamination levels, potential biological effects and the risks of these compounds on human health. Key words human estrogen receptor a; human estrogen receptor b; fluorotelomer alcohols; estrogenic effect 1358