The authors say there are more than 80,000 chemicals in commerce and the environment, and the potential human health risks for most of these remain unknown. Using quantitative high-throughput screening technologies and adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) will allow regulatory agencies — such as the EPA — to prioritize which of these chemicals are hazardous and should be further evaluated, the researchers say.
High-throughput screening uses robotics and other technological devices, allowing researchers to quickly conduct millions of chemical tests. AOPs trace biological events leading to adverse effects, which can be used in risk assessment.
