Uncertainty and Variability in Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Models: Key Issues and Case Studies (Final Report)
Contact
- Weihsueh Chiu
- by phone at: 703-347-8607
- by email at: chiu.weihsueh@epa.gov
- by email at: chiu.weihsueh@epa.gov
Background
Chemical risk and safety assessments increasingly rely upon tissue dosimetry estimates in animals and humans obtained from physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. However, risk assessment also increasingly requires characterization of uncertainty and variability; such characterization for PBPK model predictions represents a continuing challenge to both modelers and users. Current practices show significant progress in specifying deterministic biological models and the non-deterministic (often statistical) models, estimating their parameters using diverse data sets from multiple sources, and using them to make predictions and characterize uncertainty and variability. This report summarizes some of the recent progress in this area that has been conducted or supported by the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA). These include the identification of the state-of-the science on key issues in this area, as well as priority research or implementation needs. In addition, a number of case examples of chemical-specific applications have demonstrated some of the methods and issues associated with characterizing uncertainty and variability in PBPK modeling.
History/Chronology
Oct 2006 | Case studies using tetrachloroethylene and route-to-route extrapolation completed. |
Oct/Nov 2006 | International Workshop on Uncertainty and Variability in PBPK Models |
Apr 2007 | Case study on methyl tertiary butyl ether published. |
Sep 2007 | Case study using 1,3-butadiene published. |
Sep 2008 | EPA releases the final workshop report. |
Next Steps
This is the final report.
Downloads/Related Links
- U.S. EPA, Uncertainty and Variability in Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Models: Key Issues and Case Studies (Final Report) (PDF) (10 pp, 68 KB, about PDF)
- Development and Use of PBPK Modeling and the Impact of Metabolism on Variability in Dose Metrics for the Risk Assessment of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)
- Characterizing Uncertainty and Variability in PBPK Models: State of the Science and Needs for Research and Implementation
Related Link(s)
Citation
U.S. EPA. Uncertainty and Variability in Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Models: Key Issues and Case Studies (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-08/090.