Toxicological approaches to complex mixtures

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3431672· OSTI ID:508368

Mauderly, J L ^[1]

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1. Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This paper reviews the role of toxicological studies in understanding the health effects of environmental exposures to mixtures. The approach taken is to review mixtures that have received the greatest emphasis from toxicology; major mixtures research programs; the toxicologist`s view of mixtures and approaches to their study; and the complementary roles of toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological studies. Studies of tobacco smoke, engine exhaust, combustion products, and air pollutants comprise most of the past research on mixtures. Because of their great experimental control over subjects, exposures, and endpoints, toxicologists tend to consider a wider range of toxic interactions among mixture components and sequential exposures than is practical for human studies. The three fundamental experimental approaches used by toxicologists are integrative (studying the mixture as a whole), dissective (dissecting a mixture to determine causative constituents), and synthetic (studying interactions between agents in simple combinations). Toxicology provides information on potential hazards, mechanisms by which mixture constituents interact to cause effects, and exposure dose-effect relationships; but extrapolation from laboratory data to quantitative human health risks is problematic. Toxicological, clinical, and epidemiological approaches are complementary but are seldom coordinated. Fostering synergistic interactions among the disciplines in studying the risks from mixtures could be advantageous. 65 refs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76EV01013
• OSTI ID: 508368
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: Suppl.4 Vol. 101; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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