Exposure forecasting - ExpoCast - for data-poor chemicals in commerce and the environment

Area of Science:

• Environmental chemistry and toxicology
• Computational toxicology and exposure science
• Public health risk assessment

Background:

• Accurate chemical exposure estimates are crucial for prioritizing and assessing risks to public health and the environment.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces challenges with limited exposure data for thousands of commercial and environmental chemicals.
• The ExpoCast (Exposure Forecasting) project was initiated in 2009 to address these data gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize the advancements in exposure science driven by initiatives affiliated with the EPA's ExpoCast project.
• To highlight the development of data, tools, and methodologies for rapid and scientifically sound exposure predictions.
• To showcase how ExpoCast complements the ToxCast project for comprehensive chemical risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• Development of integrated modeling approaches for predicting chemical exposure and in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) doses.
• Utilization of high-throughput screening technologies and statistical systems approaches for chemical analysis.
• Application of advanced technologies such as non-targeted analysis and machine learning.

Main Results:

• Creation of highly efficient screening tools for prioritizing chemicals based on potential risks.
• Development of cost-effective tools for generating new exposure and dose data.
• Establishment of easily accessible exposure databases and transformed exposure science for data-poor chemicals.

Conclusions:

• ExpoCast has significantly advanced exposure science by developing high-throughput analytical tools.
• These tools enable rapid prediction of chemical exposures and facilitate risk-based prioritization.
• The project has been instrumental in identifying and addressing critical knowledge gaps in exposure science for public health decisions.