National Institutes of Health (NIH), EPA, and Food and Drug Administration are testing numerous chemical compounds for potential toxicity. The project, Tox21, will use a high-speed robot system to screen 10,000 mixtures of chemicals found in consumer products, food additives, industrial processes, and human and veterinary drugs. The compounds will undergo a thorough chemical analysis to verify the identity, purity, concentration and stability. The agencies hope Tox21 will help evaluate if these chemical compounds have the potential to harm human health or interfere in a way that would lead to adverse health affects. According to NIH, all test results will be available through NIH and EPA chemical toxicity databases.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers
