Overview
More efficient methods to screen more chemicals for potential toxicity and prioritization schemes that select chemicals of concern for further testing are needed, since we have such little information currently on chemical toxicity. But we also need to be using this information to think about how chemicals can be designed with green chemistry principles from the start so that costly and extensive toxicity testing may be avoided.
Study
We are determining the most important physical and chemical properties that result in oxidative stress responses, which are key steps in many human biological toxic endpoints.
Impact
New advances in toxicity testing have the ability to change the nature of chemical regulation in the United States and more effectively protect human and environmental health. They can also inform and empower the development of safer chemical design guidelines that allow chemicals and materials manufacturers to design with human and environmental health considerations.