Toxicological characterization of waste-related products using alternative methods: Three Case studies

Abstract

The characterization of toxicological impact of chemicals and mixtures from environmental matrices is a critical point in the assessment of adverse effects induced in human and ecological targets. In fact, the toxicity of most of the environmental mixtures is still under investigation due to the possibility of synergic or antagonistic effects of the components. Moreover, in some cases, the toxicity of identified chemicals is not already well known and it could be an additional matter of concern. Encouraged by recent legislations all over the world aimed to protect human health and environment, alternative methods have proved their abilities to assess the toxicity of chemicals. Hence, a possible solution to the characterization of the toxicological and ecotoxicological risk of the chemicals could be represented by the application of in silico and in vitro techniques. However, only a limited number of studies using alternative methods (testing and non-testing) are present in the scientific literature but the studies are increasing and becoming more important and spread day by day, in particular for the evaluation of mixtures derived from environmental matrices. Among the possible solutions, in vitro assay and QSARs models are the most applied approaches in the field of environmental research and risk assessment. In this chapter three case studies are introduced as examples of the application of alternative methods for the toxicological characterization of waste-related products. The first case is an integrated approach based on chemical analyses, risk assessment, and in vitro assays for the investigation of the toxicity of a leachate produced by a modern industrial landfill in Italy. The second example focuses on qualitative evaluation of cancerogenic potential of some perfluorinated compounds using both QSARs models and an in vitro cell transformation assay. Finally, a QSAR evaluation of different chemicals from waste-related products and recycling is shown in order to underline how in silico models can be used as a valid tool to fill in the gaps and to obtain information on toxicological profile and physicochemical information on compounds. In particular, a focus on compounds suggested by EU project “Riskcycle” is presented.