Toxicokinetic models

Abstract

Toxicokinetics describes by means of mathematical functions the time- and dose-dependent processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of a substance in animals and humans. For this purpose, toxicokinetic models are used, mostly straightforward compartment models by which toxicokinetic in vivo data are fitted or physiological toxicokinetic models that enable to predict species-specifically the substance burdens in various tissues and organs. Toxicokinetic information is required for the quantitative assessment of the substance-specific health risk carried out by national and international agencies responsible for regulating health and safety.