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Buckley TJ, Egeghy PP, Isaacs K, Richard AM, Ring C, Sayre RR, Sobus JR, Thomas RS, Ulrich EM, Wambaugh JF, Williams AJ. Cutting-edge computational chemical exposure research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108097. [PMID: 37478680 PMCID: PMC10588682 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Exposure science is evolving from its traditional "after the fact" and "one chemical at a time" approach to forecasting chemical exposures rapidly enough to keep pace with the constantly expanding landscape of chemicals and exposures. In this article, we provide an overview of the approaches, accomplishments, and plans for advancing computational exposure science within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development (EPA/ORD). First, to characterize the universe of chemicals in commerce and the environment, a carefully curated, web-accessible chemical resource has been created. This DSSTox database unambiguously identifies >1.2 million unique substances reflecting potential environmental and human exposures and includes computationally accessible links to each compound's corresponding data resources. Next, EPA is developing, applying, and evaluating predictive exposure models. These models increasingly rely on data, computational tools like quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models, and machine learning/artificial intelligence to provide timely and efficient prediction of chemical exposure (and associated uncertainty) for thousands of chemicals at a time. Integral to this modeling effort, EPA is developing data resources across the exposure continuum that includes application of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) non-targeted analysis (NTA) methods providing measurement capability at scale with the number of chemicals in commerce. These research efforts are integrated and well-tailored to support population exposure assessment to prioritize chemicals for exposure as a critical input to risk management. In addition, the exposure forecasts will allow a wide variety of stakeholders to explore sustainable initiatives like green chemistry to achieve economic, social, and environmental prosperity and protection of future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Buckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States.
| | - Peter P Egeghy
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Kristin Isaacs
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Ann M Richard
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Caroline Ring
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Risa R Sayre
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Jon R Sobus
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Russell S Thomas
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Elin M Ulrich
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - John F Wambaugh
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
| | - Antony J Williams
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research & Development, Center for Computational Toxicology & Exposure (CCTE), 109 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, United States
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Zwickl CM, Graham J, Jolly R, Bassan A, Ahlberg E, Amberg A, Anger LT, Barton-Maclaren T, Beilke L, Bellion P, Brigo A, Cronin MT, Custer L, Devlin A, Burleigh-Flayers H, Fish T, Glover K, Glowienke S, Gromek K, Jones D, Karmaus A, Kemper R, Piparo EL, Madia F, Martin M, Masuda-Herrera M, McAtee B, Mestre J, Milchak L, Moudgal C, Mumtaz M, Muster W, Neilson L, Patlewicz G, Paulino A, Roncaglioni A, Ruiz P, Suarez D, Szabo DT, Valentin JP, Vardakou I, Woolley D, Myatt G. Principles and Procedures for Assessment of Acute Toxicity Incorporating In Silico Methods. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 24:100237. [PMID: 36818760 PMCID: PMC9934006 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Acute toxicity in silico models are being used to support an increasing number of application areas including (1) product research and development, (2) product approval and registration as well as (3) the transport, storage and handling of chemicals. The adoption of such models is being hindered, in part, because of a lack of guidance describing how to perform and document an in silico analysis. To address this issue, a framework for an acute toxicity hazard assessment is proposed. This framework combines results from different sources including in silico methods and in vitro or in vivo experiments. In silico methods that can assist the prediction of in vivo outcomes (i.e., LD50) are analyzed concluding that predictions obtained using in silico approaches are now well-suited for reliably supporting assessment of LD50-based acute toxicity for the purpose of GHS classification. A general overview is provided of the endpoints from in vitro studies commonly evaluated for predicting acute toxicity (e.g., cytotoxicity/cytolethality as well as assays targeting specific mechanisms). The increased understanding of pathways and key triggering mechanisms underlying toxicity and the increased availability of in vitro data allow for a shift away from assessments solely based on endpoints such as LD50, to mechanism-based endpoints that can be accurately assessed in vitro or by using in silico prediction models. This paper also highlights the importance of an expert review of all available information using weight-of-evidence considerations and illustrates, using a series of diverse practical use cases, how in silico approaches support the assessment of acute toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Graham
- Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Robert Jolly
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA
| | - Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Ernst Ahlberg
- Universal Prediction AB, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexander Amberg
- Sanofi, R&D Preclinical Safety Frankfurt, Industriepark Hoechst, D-65926 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Tara Barton-Maclaren
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada / Government of Canada
| | - Lisa Beilke
- Toxicology Solutions, Inc., 10531 4S Commons Dr. #594, San Diego, CA 92127, USA
| | - Phillip Bellion
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Binger Str. 128, 55216 Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Alessandro Brigo
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Amy Devlin
- FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | - Trevor Fish
- Nelson Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | | | | | - David Jones
- MHRA, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
| | - Agnes Karmaus
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, Morrisville, NC, USA
| | | | - Elena Lo Piparo
- Chemical Food Safety Group, Nestlé Research, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Federica Madia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Jordi Mestre
- IMIM Institut Hospital Del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Doctor Aiguader 88, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Chemotargets SL, Baldiri Reixac 4, Parc Científic de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Office of the Associate Director for Science, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Wolfgang Muster
- Roche Pharmaceutical Research & Early Development, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Grenzacherstrasse 124, 4070, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Grace Patlewicz
- Centre for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Alessandra Roncaglioni
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
| | - Diana Suarez
- FSTox Consulting LTD, 2 Brooks Road Raunds Wellingborough NN9 6NS
| | | | - Jean-Pierre Valentin
- UCB-Biopharma SRL, Development Science, Avenue de l’industrie, Braine l’Alleud, Wallonia, Belgium
| | - Ioanna Vardakou
- British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd., R&D Centre, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 8TL, UK
| | | | - Glenn Myatt
- Instem, 1393 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
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