Constitutional tolerance and chlorophyll fluorescence of Boehmeria nivea L in response to the antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As) co-contamination

The metal tolerance and metabolic changes in Boehmeria nivea colonized in mining areas are not well known. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of antimony (Sb)+arsenic (As) in following combinations (control (no metal), 20+0, 10+10, 40+0, 20+20, and 40+40 mg/L) on phytotoxicity, metal tolerance index (MTI), and chlorophyll fluorescence in B. nivea. This constitutes an initial investigation of metal tolerance and chlorophyll fluorescence in Sb and Sb+As contaminated B. nivea. The high Sb+As 40+40 mg/L produced significant phytotoxicity and MTI in the plant. Progressive higher Sb and Sb+As levels resulted in decreased chlorophyll fluorescence of B. nivea. Exposure to intermediate and high Sb+As levels induced damage in the photosynthesis apparatus of the plant.     

大型蚤对五价砷抗性选择的响应

金属污染对栖息在该环境中的生物具有强大的选择力,生物若能进化出对该金属的抗性则能在该环境中生存下去,否则将会灭绝。人工模拟的选择方法可以用来研究生物对金属的抗性进化。为了探索大型蚤(Daphnia magna)是否能进化出对五价砷(As(Ⅴ))的抗性,采用多代选择的方法对其进行了As(Ⅴ)诱导的抗性响应研究。依据本实验室大型蚤对As(Ⅴ)的96h半致死浓度(4.25 mg·L~(-1)),试验选取As(Ⅴ)亚致死浓度(8.0 mg·L~(-1))对大型蚤进行选择,每代选择30%~50%对As(Ⅴ)耐受性高的大型蚤转移至不加As(Ⅴ)环境下继续繁殖得到下一代,并重复该选择过程至获得第五代(F5)终止试验。以选择组F5代及对照组F5代大型蚤为测试目标,考察其在As(Ⅴ)继续暴露下的存活时间以期获得具As(Ⅴ)抗性大型蚤。结果显示,在F5代中,选择组大型蚤在As(Ⅴ)(8.0 mg·L~(-1))暴露下的存活时间相比对照组显著延长175%,证实了大型蚤对As(Ⅴ)的进化抗性。进一步研究发现,选择组F5代与对照组F5代相比繁殖力下降19.96%,平均每批产仔量降低15.71%。这表明经过五代人工选择后,大型蚤能够进化出对As(Ⅴ)的抗性,而这种抗性的进化伴随以生物适应性参数的降低为代价。另外,大型蚤对这种抗性的获得机制(对As(Ⅴ)的累积和脱毒机制)仍需进一步研究。     

室内环境中持久性卤代有机污染物的人体暴露及潜在生殖健康影响

卤代持久性有机污染物(Hal-POPs),如多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)、多氯联苯(PCBs)、滴滴涕(DDT)等是环境中广泛存在的全球性有机污染物,同时它们又是内分泌干扰物,是威胁人类生殖健康的重要因素之一。由于人们每天约有80%以上的时间在室内度过,且室内环境是Hal-POPs人体暴露的主要来源之一,因此室内环境中Hal-POPs对人体内分泌系统的干扰作用及其机理等问题亟待研究,但目前这方面的研究很有限。本文通过综述Hal-POPs在室内环境中的赋存水平和在人体体内的负荷水平及其半衰期,探讨了其对人体内分泌系统尤其是男性生殖健康的影响情况及其可能的机理,并分析了目前研究的不足之处及研究前景,为进一步开展这方面的研究提供借鉴。     

珠江流域湖库型水源集水区酞酸酯(PAEs)类污染物环境健康风险评估

以饮用水源集水区为中心,沿支流采集水样,采用美国环境保护署(USEPA)暴露风险评价方法,结合该地区的参数计算环境健康风险。结果表明:(1)所有采样点均检出PAEs类污染物邻苯二甲酸正丁酯(DBP)、邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DOP)和邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP),其中DOP高于DBP和DEP。(2)该饮用水源集水区3种PAEs污染物质量浓度均高于流域内其他乡镇饮用水源,在国内外同类地区也属于中上水平。DOP是集水区内需首要控制的PAEs类污染物。(3)在人类活动干扰少的地区河流污染物的环境健康风险水平较低,而在人口密集区和工业集中区风险水平较高。河流上游风险值低,中游高,下游和库区又逐渐回落。该水源集水区的PAEs类污染物环境健康风险值未超过USEPA规定,但与国内外其它地区相比属于中上水平,存在一定的潜在健康风险,需要根据PAEs的可能来源在水源地环境风险管理中加以防范。     

Determination and occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds,pharmaceuticals and personal care products in fish (Morone saxatilis)

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have attracted much attention due to widespread contamination in aquatic environment. In this study, we determined 13 EDCs and PPCPs in fish blood, bile and muscle by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were in the ranges of 0.23–2.54, 0.22–2.36 ng·mL⁻¹, and 0.24–2.57 ng·g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) for fish blood, bile and muscle, respectively. Recoveries of target compounds spiked into sample matrices and passed through the entire analytical procedure ranged from 65% to 95%, from 60% to 92% and from 62% to 91% for blood, bile and muscle, respectively. The methods were applied to the analysis of fish from a lake in California. Target compounds were relatively low in bile, and only bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac were measurable near the LOQ. Seven of 13 compounds were detected in blood, with total concentrations up to 39 ng·mL⁻¹. Only BPA was frequently found in muscle, with mean concentration of 7.26 ng·g⁻¹ dw. The estimated daily intake of BPA through fish consumption for U.S. resident was significantly lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by the European Food Safety Authority. This study showed that the exposure to the bisphenol A from fish diet is unlikely to pose a health risk.     

大辽河地表水中多环芳烃的污染水平及致癌风险评价

随着经济发展,水环境污染不断加剧,地表水中多环芳烃(PAHs)的水平及其致癌风险直接关系到居民的身体健康。为分析大辽河地表水中多环芳烃的污染水平,对大辽河2011年丰水期和枯水期地表水中16种优先控制的PAHs浓度进行监测,应用以Bap为参照物使用等效质量浓度TEQ和终生致癌风险评价模型(ILCR)对地表水中多环芳烃对人体的风险进行评价。结果表明:与国内外其他河流相比较,大辽河地表水中ΣPAHs的污染较为严重,且丰水期浓度显著大于枯水期。在丰水期,地表水中多环芳烃以4环多环芳烃为主,代表性多环芳烃为Baa;在枯水期,地表水中多环芳烃以3环和4环多环芳烃为主,代表性多环芳烃为Phe。与美国EPA标准相比较,致癌风险评价结果表明大辽河地表水中存在潜在的多环芳烃致癌风险,即使经过水厂处理后这种风险仍然存在,必须给予重视。上述研究结果为明确大辽河地表水中多环芳烃污染现状、加强水环境管理提供了基础数据。     

菊花茶中砷含量特征及砷健康风险评价

菊花茶是深受人们喜爱的一种饮品,但其干燥过程及加工工艺不当会造成菊花茶的重金属污染,尤其是和硫磺矿伴生的重金属砷。以市售菊花茶为研究对象,采用硝酸-双氧水消解体系,高压密闭消解系统和原子荧光光谱法分析测定了其中砷(As)含量,对典型超标菊花茶样品进行不同冲泡方式的筛选,确定其适宜的饮用方式,并根据我国绿色代用茶行业标准和WHO砷最大日允许摄入量(ADI)对菊花茶中砷的人体健康风险做出评价。结果表明,菊花茶中砷的含量范围在0.01～3.52mg·kg-1,91.1%的样品符合绿色代用茶的《中华人民共和国农业行业标准》(0.5mg·kg-1),其中砷含量最高的为药用祁菊花达3.52mg·kg-1,所有样品中超标的8个菊花茶样品种类分别为祁白菊(2个),杭白菊(2个),黄山贡菊(1个)和野菊花(1个),怀菊和药用祁菊各1个,75%的超标样品为散装饮品;选择超标的2个典型菊花茶样品(杭白菊和药用祁菊花)进行冲泡方式筛选,得出适宜的饮用方式为:用水茶质量比例为25∶1的开水清洗菊花茶5min,然后用开水冲泡5～20min再饮用。随菊花茶进入人体的最大日摄入量(极限值)为43.7～169μg·d-1,其占ADI(allowable daily intake)的比值范围在34.1%～132%,其中随药用祁菊花进入人体的As最大日摄入量与ADI的比值超过100%,这表明砷经菊花茶饮品摄入人体内所潜在的健康风险不容忽视。砷超标的菊花茶经过冲泡后饮用,砷的人体日摄入量13.1～36.3μg·d-1,其占ADI的比值范围在10.3%～28.4%。因此,经过洗茶后再冲泡饮用,砷的日摄入量显著降低(P<0.01),建议饮用菊花茶时洗1次茶后再冲泡饮用。     

Physicochemical properties of non-living water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and lesser duckweed (Lemna minor) and their influence on the As(V) adsorption processes

Eichhornia crassipes (Ec) and Lemna minor (Lm) are aquatic plants. They are considered as weeds of the water and approach being a scourge in many parts of the world, choking waterways and hindering transport upon them. At the same time they are known to readily remove heavy metal ions from water. This paper considers the use of non-living plants as novel and inexpensive biosorbent for the removal of As(V) from watersheds. In the first place they were conditioned and characterised to determine their physicochemical and surface properties and in the second place their adsorption properties for As(V) from aqueous solution were evaluated considering the toxicity of this metalloid in the environment. It describes the methodology to prepare the non-living biomasses; the physicochemical characterisation by SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA analyses and surface characterisation of Ec and Lm by specific surface, hydration kinetic, point of zero charge determination by mass titration, active site density and XPS analysis are described. Both studied biomasses were found to be potential bio-sorbents for arsenic ions from aqueous solution. According to their efficiency to remove arsenic, they can be used in a very low cost metalloid ions removal system.     

灵芝中重金属的检测及其健康风险初步评价

为了研究灵芝中重金属的污染状况,对北京市一些药店及部分中医门诊部所售的不同产地灵芝中的As、Hg、Pb等重金属元素含量进行了测定.结果表明,灵芝中As含量范围为0.016￣0.239mg·kg-1,平均值0.117mg·kg-1,Hg含量范围从未检出到0.43mg·kg-1,平均值0.115mg·kg-1,Pb含量范围从未检出到0.256mg·kg-1,平均值0.047mg·kg-1,As、Pb含量均符合我国《药用植物及制剂进出口绿色行业标准》,Hg有5例超标,占样品总数的25%,主要是野生灵芝.健康风险初步评价结果表明,服用灵芝的人群,成人每人每日通过灵芝摄入As、Hg、Pb分别为0.18￣2.3μg、0.17￣2.3μg、0.07￣0.94μg,分别占每日允许摄入量(ADI)的0.14%￣1.9%、0.4%￣5.4%、0.03%￣0.4%,对人体健康风险不大.但是对于个别野生和人工种植灵芝而言,每日摄入总汞量可达0.47￣6.24μg,占ADI的1.1%￣15%,对人体健康存在一定的风险.     

北京市某废弃化工厂的人类健康风险评价

由于北京城市化速度的加快,五环路内的工厂将陆续搬迁,搬迁后的土地,使用功能将发生根本性变化,由于修复成本较高,是否对受污染土地进行修复,需要借助健康风险评价,以便确保人们的健康安全.运用美国的健康风险评价框架,对北京市某废弃化工厂场地进行了健康风险分析,计算了将该废弃场地用作居住用地对人类的健康风险指数及确定是否需要进行修复.在场地内,分2次进行了3层土壤采样,共采集到80个样品.选取Cr、Zn、Ni、Pb、Hg、Cu、As、Cd、DDT、六六六(HCH)和邻苯二甲酸二辛酯(DP)11种超标污染物作为目标污染物,对其进行健康风险评价.按照美国EPA的方法,选取了95%置信上限含量进行风险指数的计算.评价结果显示,该场地成人的非致癌风险指数为15.85,儿童的非致癌风险指数为18.17,均超过了非致癌风险指数可接受值1.0,表明该化工厂场地对成人和儿童均有非致癌风险;对成人,邻苯二甲酸二辛酯的致癌风险指数为不可接受值(>1×10-4),对儿童,邻苯二甲酸二辛脂和DDT的致癌风险为不可接受值(>1×10-4),其它污染物的致癌风险均在可接受范围之内.由于案例中的场地将被用作居住用地,建议对该场地进行部分修复.     

医学环境影响评价的规范研究

本文以医学环境影响评价的目的,内容,原则,范围及对象,评价程序,模式为主要内容,试图提出医学环境影响评价的规范,使医学环境影响评价更具有可操作性及科学性,从而对控制污染,管理环境,规划环境提供科学依据。     

北部湾潮间带波纹巴非蛤体内石油烃和多氯联苯的分布及风险评价

2011年春季在北部湾沿岸潮间带布设9个站位,采集双壳类动物波纹巴非蛤(Paphia undulata)并测定其软组织中的石油烃(TPH)和多氯联苯(PCBs)含量,研究两种污染物的分布特征、评价其生物质量并对巴非蛤体内残留PCBs可能造成的人体健康风险进行评价.结果表明,各站位TPH和∑PCBs含量范围分别为56.76—199.49μg.g-1和14.19—52.71 ng.g-1(干质量(dw)),就PCBs的组成而言,高氯代PCBs(PCB153、PCB180、PCB194)为优势同族体,所占比重较大.污染指数计算结果显示,除北海西场海域外,各站位的巴非蛤均受到TPH的重度污染,港口区尤为严重;而所有站位的巴非蛤均未受到PCBs污染.健康风险评价结果显示,所有站位的巴非蛤体内PCBs的非致癌风险处于可接受水平(RQ<1),但是,大多数站位的致癌风险指数(0.83×10-6—3.53×10-6)高于可接受的致癌风险低值(1×10-6),而存在一定的潜在致癌风险.     

六溴环十二烷(HBCD)对H4细胞和SK-N-AS细胞脱碘酶2和3表达的影响

六溴环十二烷(hexabromocyclododecane,HBCD)与多溴联苯醚(polybrominated diethyl ethers,PBDEs)复合污染体系,对人类健康尤其神经系统所造成的潜在危害及其机制一直是笔者课题组的研究方向。HBCD是广泛使用的溴化阻燃剂,与PBDEs一样,会通过干扰内分泌系统、影响甲状腺激素分泌及损伤神经系统,对生物体产生发育神经毒性。作为系列研究之一,本研究以H4人脑神经胶质瘤细胞和SK-N-AS人神经母细胞瘤细胞为体外生物模型,通过观察HBCD对H4细胞Ⅱ型脱碘酶(Dio2)和SK-N-AS细胞Ⅲ型脱碘酶(Dio3)表达的调控,初步探讨了HBCD对神经系统局部甲状腺激素水平的潜在影响。H4细胞和SK-N-AS细胞分别暴露于0、1、3和9μmol·L-1HBCD 24 h后,采用MTT法检测细胞活力,Western Blot和RT-PCR法分别分析Dio2和Dio3蛋白和基因的表达,酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)法检测H4细胞脑源性神经细胞营养因子(BDNF)的分泌。结果表明,HBCD以剂量依赖方式降低H4细胞和SK-N-AS细胞生存率,引起H4细胞Dio2蛋白和基因表达下调,而致SK-N-AS细胞Dio3蛋白和基因表达上调。此外,HBCD还降低H4细胞BDNF的分泌。这表明,HBCD很可能通过影响神经和胶质细胞脱碘酶的表达,影响脑局部甲状腺激素水平,从而引起神经系统损伤及发育神经毒性。     

胶州湾北岸潮间带三-(2,3-二溴丙基)异氰脲酸酯和六溴环十二烷的分布水平

对胶州湾北岸潮间带底泥样品中三-(2,3-二溴丙基)异氰脲酸酯(tris-(2,3-dibromopropyl)isocyanurate,TBC)和六溴环十二烷(hexabromocyclododecanes,HBCDs)的3种同分异构体(α-HBCD、β-HBCD、γ-HBCD)的分布水平进行分析,结合索氏提取与Waters ACQUITY UPLC-MS-MS超高效液相色谱-质谱联用仪检测出TBC和HBCDs的3种同分异构体α-HBCD、β-HBCD、γ-HBCD,浓度范围分别为1.20~5.62 ng·g~(-1)(干重)、1.18~1.54 ng·g~(-1)(干重)、1.50~1.85 ng·g~(-1)(干重)、2.12~2.99 ng·g~(-1)(干重)。其中,TBC在河流入海口处的浓度较高,γ-HBCD占ΣHBCDs的比例(44.75%)最高,且相关性分析表明TBC和HBCDs可能有相似的污染来源。最近,斯德哥尔摩公约持久性有机污染物审查委员会(POPRC)将HBCDs列入POPs名单加以限制使用,这表明其具有一定的环境风险,未来可能对环境和人类健康造成的危害应该引起足够的重视。     

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in the blood of pure vegetarians (vegans)

Intake of many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including dioxins, dibenzofurans and PCBs is almost exclusively from gastrointestinal ingestion of animal fats in the diet. With polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) brominated flame retardants (BFRs), no consensus exists at present as to the extent of intake from food, from indoor dust or other routes of intake. Vegans, or pure vegetarians, were previously found to have low body burden of dioxins and dibenzofurans in blood. Data reported here for the first time show a trend towards lower PBDE levels with longer time periods without ingestion of food of animal origin in 8 adult residents of the United States. A stronger relationship between lower PBDE levels and time without meat, specifically, is consistent with substantial PBDE intake from meat relative to fish or dairy products in Americans. These vegans had somewhat lower PBDE levels with a range 12.4–127 and a median 23.9?ppb than published reports of US general population samples which had a range of 4–366 and median of 26?ppb. Our findings suggest that food of animal origin may be a major but not the sole contributor to human body burden of PBDEs.     

浑河水环境健康风险特征研究

随着经济发展,水环境污染不断加剧,已经严重危害到人们的正常身体健康。水环境评价可以得到准确的水质状况及其污染程度,但却无法直观反映对人体健康危害的风险程度,因此需要对水环境健康风险进行评价。应用美国环保局(USEPA)推荐的暴露计算方法和健康风险评价模型,以2009年和2010年11项水环境监测指标的数据为基础,首次对浑河河流中11项污染物的健康风险进行评价,对监测指标和健康风险的时空变化特征进行分析。结果表明:在监测的指标中,重金属和氰化物等未超标,挥发酚和氨氮超标,其中氨氮超标严重。对人体健康风险中,化学致癌物中Cr(VI)最大,非致癌物中氨氮的健康风险最大;与化学致癌物对人体健康危害的个人年风险相比,非致癌物由饮用途径所导致的健康危害较小。浑河干流总健康风险在丰水期最小,平水期最大。浑河干流从上游到下游各断面总健康风险总体上呈降低趋势,均高于国际辐射防护委员会(ICRP)的最大可接受风险水平。结果证明水体中Cr(VI)为主要风险因子,应对含Cr(VI)废水进行控制和治理,加强农业面源和工业废水的治理。     

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)对斑马鱼血浆和组织匀浆中卵黄蛋白原含量的影响

为了研究低剂量的全氟辛烷磺酸(perfluorooctane sulfonate,PFOS)对水生生物的内分泌干扰效应和作用机制,考察了PFOS对斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)血浆和组织匀浆中卵黄蛋白原(vitellogenin,VTG)含量的影响。将雄性和雌性斑马鱼分别暴露于0.1、1、10和100μg·L-1的PFOS中进行21d毒性实验,染毒结束后分别检测雄鱼和雌鱼的血浆、头尾组织匀浆液和全鱼匀浆液中的VTG含量。结果显示:(1)PFOS暴露可引起斑马鱼血浆、全鱼和头尾匀浆液中VTG含量的升高,VTG含量的排序为雌鱼(血浆>>全鱼匀浆>头尾匀浆)>>雄鱼(血浆>全鱼匀浆>>头尾匀浆);(2)PFOS暴露所引起的雄鱼血浆和头尾匀浆中VTG含量的升高与剂量呈负相关关系,暴露浓度为0.1μg·L-1时与对照组相比有显著性差异(p<0.05);(3)雌鱼血浆和头尾匀浆中VTG含量的升高与剂量呈倒U型曲线关系,暴露浓度为10μg·L-1时与对照组相比有显著性差异(p<0.05);(4)雄鱼和雌鱼的全鱼匀浆液中的VTG含量与对照组相比均无显著性差异。研究结果表明,PFOS暴露对斑马鱼的内分泌干扰作用明显,其毒性作用机制可能是类雌激素效应,血液和头尾匀浆液中VTG含量能够作为PFOS内分泌干扰效应评价的敏感生物标志物,但响应曲线可能因性别和组织部位的不同有所差异。     

Effects of mercury graded doses on redox status,metallothionein levels and genotoxicity in the intestine of sea cucumber Holothuria forskali

Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous and a major environmental metal pollutant in the aquatic ecosystem. The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of mercury graded doses exposure on oxidative stress, redox status, metallothionein levels and genotoxicity in the intestine of sea cucumber Holothuria forskali. Specimens were exposed for 96?h to three concentrations of Hg (40, 80 and 160?µg/L). Exposure of H. forskali to Hg promoted oxidative stress with an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PCO) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) levels. An increase of glutathione (GSH), vitamin C (ViteC) and non-protein thiols (NPSH) contents was also observed. Additionally, antioxidant activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased especially with the highest doses of Hg indicating a great defense of the antioxidant system. Our investigation revealed an increase in total Metallothionein (MT) content which was more pronounced at the sharpest concentrations of Hg. A significant decline of AChE activity was also observed. In the intestine of Hg-treated H. forskali genotoxicity was confirmed by DNA degradation.     

城市回用水中多环芳烃致癌风险评价

为评价人群暴露于城市回用水中16种多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)对于人体健康的潜在风险,采用气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用的分析化学方法对不同季节回用水中16种PAHs进行定量分析;在此基础上采用美国国家科学院和国家研究委员会提出的环境健康风险评价方法,分析不同回用条件下具有中国水体基质特色的城市回用水中PAHs健康风险.结果显示,回用水样中16种PAHs的总浓度为1 422.85 ng·L-1,污水处理厂二级出水水样16种PAHs的总浓度为1 791.77 ng ·L-1,经过处理后回用水中PAHs含量有所降低.风险评价分析结果显示,回用水在城市绿化、农业灌溉和景观娱乐3种不同回用途径下多环芳烃的致癌风险分别为788×10-8、2.77×10-6、3.04×10-6,总致癌风险为5.89×10-6.以上结果可以得出,回用水在城市绿化、农田灌溉和景观娱乐接触过程中多环芳烃所增加的致癌风险很低,回用水中多环芳烃的健康风险处于可接受水平.     

Modeling toxic endpoints for improving human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – parent compounds and simple mixtures

Risk assessments for mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are problematic due to the lack of available potency and toxicity data on individual compounds and mixtures. This article examines the toxicity of parent compounds and designed mixtures of PAH in order to bridge the gap between component assessment and mixture assessment for this class of ubiquitous compounds. The objective for this study was to test seven parent PAH compounds and four PAH mixtures in a set of three bioassays to evaluate the toxicity of parent compound PAH and binary mixtures of PAH. PAH and mixtures were examined in the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity assay, a Gap Junction Intercellular Communication assay, and the 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase assay. These assays were chosen for their ability to measure specific toxic endpoints related to the carcinogenic process (i.e. initiation, promotion, and progression). Two compounds similar in structure, benzo(a) pyrene (BAP) and benzanthracene, consistently produced positive results in all three bioassays. Conversely, a linear PAH, anthracene, produced negative results in all three bioassays. An antagonistic response was observed for the mixtures in all three bioassays. Chemical structure was important in explaining the observed responses. Using chemical structure–activity relationships with the steps of the carcinogenic process may be used to improve estimates of toxicity for compounds and mixtures for human health risk assessments.