Fish acute toxicity syndromes and their use in the QSAR approach to hazard assessment
Implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1977 creates the need to reliably establish testing priorities because laboratory resources are limited and the number of industrial chemicals requiring evaluation is overwhelming. The use of quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models as rapid and predictive screening tools to select more potentially hazardous chemicals for in-depth laboratory evaluation has been proposed. Further implementation and refinement of quantitative structure-toxicity relationships in aqueous toxicology and hazard assessment requires the development of a mode-of-action database. With such a database, a qualitative structure-activity relationship can be formulated to assign the proper mode of action, and respective QSAR, to a given chemical structure. In this review, the development of fish acute toxicity syndromes (FATS), which are toxic-response sets based on various behavioral and physiological-biochemical measurements, and their projected use in the mode-of-action database are outlined. Using behavioral parameters monitored in the fathead minnow during acute toxicity testing, FATS associated with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors and narcotics could be reliably predicted. However, compounds classified as oxidative phosphorylation uncouplers or stimulants could not be resolved. Refinement of this approach by using respiratory-cardiovascular responses in the rainbow trout, enabled FATS associated with AChE inhibitors, convulsants, narcotics, respiratory blockers, respiratory membrane irritants, and uncouplers to be correctly predicted.
- Research Organization:
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN
- OSTI ID:
- 6610331
- Journal Information:
- Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Vol. 71
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FISHES
PHYSIOLOGY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS
TOXICITY
BEHAVIOR
CHOLINESTERASE
ENZYME INHIBITORS
HEART
LUNGS
NARCOTICS
RESPIRATION
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BODY
CARBOXYLESTERASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS
DRUGS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
HYDROLASES
MATERIALS
ORGANS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology