ToxStrategies is a multidisciplinary scientific consulting firm that strives to develop innovative solutions to address the scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges confronting our clients. We have a reputation for applying sound science in all that we do, for leading-edge thinking, and for tailoring our approach to meet the specific needs of our clients, whether a rapid response or a comprehensive analysis is needed.
Potential human health risks associated with the use of pesticides and related chemicals have drawn increasing concern, and ToxStrategies has a broad knowledge base in the scientific disciplines needed to assist clients facing such issues. Possible risks can arise from exposure to insecticides, herbicides, disinfectants, sanitizers, fumigants, biocides, fungicides, repellents, and other chemical products such as surfactants or other adjuvants. Exposures can occur during chemical use in agriculture (e.g., crop application or drift), residential/consumer activities (e.g., bug repellents, weed killers), and via food consumption.
One area of strong expertise among our scientific staff is pesticide toxicology and food safety. Our collective background extends to acephate, atrazine, azinphos-methyl, biological compounds (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis or rotenone), carbaryl, chlorothalonil, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), DDT, chromated copper arsenate (CCA), chlorpyrifos, DEET, diazinon, dicamba, dimethoate, diquat, heptachlor, glyphosate, IR3535, limonene, malathion, mecoprop, methyl bromide, paraquat, pentachlorophenol, phosmet, picloram, propoxur, pyrethrins, pyrethroids (e.g., permethrin), and simazine. ToxStrategies’ scientists have conducted numerous evaluations on these topics, having publishing many of these in the scientific literature, including recent book chapters on the potential health effects of pesticides, and also on insect repellents. Additionally, we have expertise in serving on pesticide-related scientific evaluation committees. Specific relevant areas of expertise include the following:
Ingredient & Formulation Safety
- Evaluation of scientific data for active and inert ingredients of pesticides
- Hazard evaluation
- Pharmacokinetics
- Critical evaluation of toxicological and epidemiological data
- Systematic review
- Species extrapolation
- Risk assessment
- Safety assessment
- Risk communication
- Derivation of safe exposure levels
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) assessment and development
- Experience with USEPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) [as well as the testing and regulatory framework used in the European Union]
- Environmental forensics
- Ecotoxicity evaluation
Food Safety
- Development of pesticide programs to address food safety requirements
- Managing residues on raw agricultural commodities to meet global regulatory standards
- Horizon scan for removal of pesticides and/or uses from country lists
Exposure
- Exposure assessment and dose estimation
- Evaluation of exposure from consumer products
- Relevant Databases and Software
- USEPA’s OPP Pesticide Chemical Search Database
- USEPA’s List N Tool: COVID-19 Disinfectants
- USEPA’s InertFinder Database
- USEPA’s Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides (HHBPs) Database
- USGS’s Health-Based Screening Levels (HBSLs) Database
- USEPA’s OPP’s List of Pesticide Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential
- National Pesticide Information Retrieval System (NPIRS)
- USEPA’s Incident Data System(IDS)
- International Pesticide Information (e.g., EU’s Pesticides Database; FAO/WHO, and others)
- AGRITOX
- Lakes Environmental WRPLOT
- Benchmark Dose Modeling (BDM)
- EPI Suite
- IVIVE (in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation) modeling
- Oracle Crystal Ball
- Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) databases (e.g., Bryant Christie)
- ConsExpo Web