Chemical Evaluation

Evaluating Chemicals for Health Effects

EPA scientists develop and use various methods to test chemicals for potential health effects. This research is critical because it provides health effects information that policymakers can use to help inform chemical regulations and prioritize chemicals in the most need of additional testing.  

There are three sections of our Chemical Evaluation research: High-Throughput Toxicology, Rapid Exposure and Dosimetry, and Emerging Materials and Technologies.

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High-Throughput Toxicology

High-Throughput Toxicology (HTT) refers to quick and efficient methods for testing chemicals for health effects. Using these methods helps to prioritize, screen, and evaluate the safety of thousands of chemicals which can reduce the reliance on using traditional toxicity tests, like animal testing.

Rapid Exposure and Dosimetry

Rapid Exposure and Dosimetry (RED) predicts exposures for thousands of chemicals across various scenarios relevant to human and ecological assessments. The research provides useful data to chemical risk assessors and regulators. Exposure predictions can be combined with health effect information to improve chemical risk assessments. 

Emerging Materials and Technologies 

Emerging Materials and Technologies (EMT) research develops and uses new methods to test materials and technologies such as engineered nanomaterials and biotechnology products.

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Other areas of Safer Chemicals research: 

• Complex Systems Science: Understanding Chemical Interaction with Biological Systems

• Knowledge Delivery & Solutions-Driven Translation to Support Decision Making: Delivering Research to Users