Computational Toxicology

The focus of the chapter is on the development and application of computational toxicology methods to human risk assessment. The various CompTox methods are defined, and a brief history of their development and applications in risk assessment is provided. The technological, economic, and public health concerns driving the development of the methods are described, along with how the specific forces shaped the historical and current use of CompTox methods in risk assessment. Translation research programs in the United States and OECD are briefly reviewed, and current applications of CompTox to risk assessment in the areas of screening, priority setting for testing and regulation, and the elucidation of adverse outcome pathways are discussed. Potential future directions for the application of computational toxicology in a wider range of risk applications are identified, along with ongoing research needs.