Exploring the Potential of ToxCast Data in Supporting Read-Across for Evaluation of Food Chemical Safety.

The intention of this study was to determine the utility of high-throughput screening (HTS) data, as exemplified by ToxCast and Tox21, for application in toxicological read-across in food-relevant chemicals. Key questions were addressed on the extent to which the HTS data could provide information enabling (1) the elucidation of underlying bioactivities associated with apical toxicological outcomes, (2) the closing of existing toxicological data gaps, and (3) the definition of the boundaries of chemical space across which bioactivity could reliably be extrapolated. Results revealed that many biological targets apparently activated within the chemical groupings lack, at this time, validated toxicity pathway associations.

Potential of ToxCast Data in the Safety Assessment of Food Chemicals.

Tox21 and ToxCast are high-throughput in vitro screening programs coordinated by the U.S. National Toxicology Program and the U.

Approaches to the safety assessment of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in food.

A systematic, tiered approach to assess the safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in foods is presented. The ENM is first compared to its non-nano form counterpart to determine if ENM-specific assessment is required. Of highest concern from a toxicological perspective are ENMs which have potential for systemic translocation, are insoluble or only partially soluble over time or are particulate and bio-persistent.

Studies to investigate the absorption and excretion of shea oleine sterols in rat and man.

Shea oleine (SU), an oil fraction derived from the nut of the African tree, Butyrospermum parkii, is used as a frying oil and, after hardening (SH), in margarine and toffee fat. Both SU and SH contain a high level (approximately 8%) of 4,4-dimethylsterols (4,4-DMS), mostly as esters of cinnamic acid. As part of a series of studies evaluating SU, investigations to study rat and human dietary utilization were carried out.

A 13-week feeding study in the rat with shea oleine and hardened shea oleine.

Shea oleine is an oil fraction derived from the nut of the tree, Butyrospermum parkii, which grows in central and western Africa. There are several uses of shea oleine, including its use as a cooking oil and, after hardening, in margarine and toffee fat. As part of a series of studies, a 13-week rat feeding study was conducted in which groups of Colworth-Wistar rats (15 male and 15 female) were fed 27.