Toxicology of simple and complex mixtures.
Humans are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, rather than to individual chemicals. From a public health point of view, it is most relevant to answer the question of whether or not the components in a mixture interact in a way that results in an increase in their overall effect compared with the sum of the effects of the individual components. In this article, options for the hazard identification and risk assessment of simple and complex chemical mixtures will be discussed. In addition, key research needed to continue the development of hazard characterization of chemical mixtures will be described. Clearly, more collaboration among toxicologists, model developers and pharmacologists will be necessary.
Groten
J P
JP
Department of Explanatory Toxicology, TNO Nutrition and Food Research, PO Box 360, 3700 AJ Zeist, The Netherlands. Groten@voeding.tno.nl
Feron
V J
VJ
Sühnel
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D015386:Hazardous Substances