Toxicology - Public Health Command

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Toxicology

In the sixteenth century, Paracelsus observed that every substance is poisonous. Toxicologists strive to determine the toxicity of substances using methodologies such as computer modeling, cellular and genetic toxicology, and animal studies. Toxicity evaluations, toxicity clearances, wildlife toxicity assessments, and environmental health assessments are some of the products used to evaluate risks to Soldiers, civilians and the environment posed by military-unique and military-relevant substances.

Topics

All Substances Are Poisons: Toxicology Overview

All substances are poisons; there is none which is not a poison. It is the dose that differentiates a poison from a remedy. Paracelsus... (more)

Animal Models

The USAPHC uses traditional and non-traditional animal models for research and testing. Animal studies must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which includes study directors, veterinary staff members, quality assurance professionals, a statistician, a high-level manager and others. ... (more)

Genetic and Cellular Toxicology

The USAPHC uses a wide array of in vivo and in vitro assays for cell-based safety assessments, genetic toxicology and cellular toxicology. In vivo micronucleus and comet assays; in vitro Ames assay; polymerase chain reaction; and metabolic fate in human liver tissues are only a few of the techniques we employ. We are also able to develop new in vitro techniques and methodologies to meet our cust... (more)

Genomics

Genomics studies are now widely used in toxicology. At PHC, several studies have examined the toxicology of explosives and metals. This work has required collaborative efforts between other commands, such as the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center at Vicksburg, MS, and the Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Microarray expression studies ha... (more)

Toxicological Computer Modeling

Because experimental toxicology information exists for only a fraction of known chemical substances, the USAPHC uses quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to predict the physical-chemical and toxicological characteristics of many compounds. Although modeling cannot be substituted for in vivo experimentation, it is faster and ... (more)

Toxicology Partner Organizations

The USAPHC collaborates internally and with other Army Medical Command organizations, as well as: DoD AEC Army Environmental Center ACE Army Corps of Engineers ERDC (Engineer, Research and Development Center) WES (Waterways Experiment Center) EQTOEP (Environmental Quality Technology Ordnance Environmental Program) AMC Army Materiel C... (more)

Services

Exposure Modeling

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Toxicity Clearances

A toxicity clearance is a toxicological evaluation of materials prior to their introduction into the Army supply system. When a program identifies a technically feasible material, the manager is responsible for requesting a toxicity clearance for use of that material within their program. Army Regulation 40-5 promulgates the toxicity clearance process in the Army. Army Regulation 70-1 Army Acqu... (more)

Wildlife Toxicity Assessments

An integral component of a wildlife ecological risk assessment (ERA) is the development of some quantitative measure of the toxicity of a chemical to the animals of concern. This measure is often referred to as a toxicity reference value, or TRV. PHC has devised a standard method for developing toxicological profiles and toxicity reference values for military-related substances that may pose risks... (more)

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