![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Chemical Biotransformation in Fish: Implications for Predictive Model Development
Project Summary
Fish metabolically transform many of the chemicals to which they are exposed. These transformations generally facilitate the removal of a compound from the fish’s body and often, although not always, result in reduced toxicity. It is important, therefore, to predict the extent to which fish will metabolize compounds of interest and to incorporate these predictions into mathematical models of uptake and accumulation. The goal of this research effort is to develop in vitro (“test tube”) measures of chemical metabolism that can be extrapolated to the in vivo (“whole animal”) situation. Once validated, these in vitro assays will provide estimates of metabolism that can be used to predict chemical uptake and accumulation without the prior need to expose live animals.
Key products
The key products of this effort will be a series of peer-reviewed journal publications. Individual publications will describe: 1) the general method used to perform in vitro-in vivo metabolism extrapolations with fish, 2) existing in vitro data for fish that can be used to perform these extrapolations, and 3) potential impacts of metabolism on chemical accumulation as a function of a compound’s relative hydrophobicity.
Project personnel
| Name | Phone | |
| John Nichols | nichols.john@epa.gov | 218-529-5160 |
| Patrick Fitzsimmons | fitzsimmons.patrick@epa.gov | 218-529-5184 |
| Alex Hoffman | hoffman.alex@epa.gov | 218-529-5135 |
Research project update date
April 7, 2008