The Toxicology Group:
Service Descriptions

Risk Assessment – Human Health and Environmental

The Toxicology Group offers clients Risk Assessments in both the human health and environmental sectors. The risk assessment process involves evaluating the inherent toxicity of a chemical, its potential for human/ecological exposure, and the consequences of that exposure. The latest scientific information is employed to identify and describe chemical hazards, estimate human exposures, and predict potential health risks. Risk assessments play a large role in regulating the production, use, and disposal of chemical products, and The Toxicology Group assists clients in optimizing manufacturing processes to develop safer products while minimizing risks.

The Toxicology Group is a leader in Risk-based decision making, which has become prevalent when evaluating environmentally contaminated sites, and is involved in the use of chemicals in consumer products, foods, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. The Toxicology Group provides clients practical, cost-effective solutions based on sound professional judgement and experience.

Toxicological Reviews

The Toxicology Group provides chemical-specific and system-specific interpretive toxicology reviews, which discuss all relevant toxicological studies. This service allows clients the option of evaluating the toxicity of a chemical prior to its use or manufacturing. Governmental agencies can use Toxicological Reviews for supporting documentation in risk assessments. Exhaustive literature and database searches are conducted, allowing The Toxicology Group's toxicologists to thoroughly evaluate a product.

The past fifty years of third party certification of drinking water systems and additives has allowed The Toxicology Group at NSF International to develop its own specialized toxicology database. This includes both organic and inorganic chemicals, which are updated constantly with the most recent scientific literature.
Critical Evaluation of Toxicological Studies

Toxicological studies are often highly complex and technical. The Toxicology Group, through effective reports and presentations, provides a review of studies so clients may thoroughly understand the results and conclusions. These critical reviews evaluate methods and data, in order to qualify assumptions and verify conclusions. By clearly communicating essential information regarding toxicology studies, clients are able to better manage their operations.

Development of Study Protocols for Toxicological Assessment of Chemicals

The Toxicology Group offers extensive experience for clients in developing and reviewing study protocols. Study protocols are developed to meet the individual requirements of a project, and will assist clients in the development of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and related products. The Toxicology Group assists clients with both clinical and non-clinical studies by developing study protocols, providing Quality Assurance, and reviewing data to evaluate product development.

By utilizing in-house, internationally recognized testing capabilities, The Toxicology Group can design and execute toxicological studies for a wide range of clients. The Toxicology Group also works with clients by reviewing submissions and responses to regulatory issues associated with product development.

Product Safety Assessment

In support of product development, or in conjunction with litigation support, a Product Safety Assessment provides valuable information on a product and its ingredients. These assessments contribute to the stewardship of a product by ensuring its safety, and by advising the manufacturer of possible risks and hazards. Safety assessments of potential toxicity are conducted with either a product or a specific ingredient.

The Toxicology Group's experience with exposure and evaluation of a diverse range of products, including plastics, cements, paints, coatings, and metals, makes us uniquely qualified to perform these assessments. Expertise in the extraction of organic and inorganic compounds, with expertise in organic and environmental chemistry, aquatic and mammalian toxicology, biochemistry, and metabolism, provides a critical understanding of a product's overall safety. The client is provided with an expert report, signed by a toxicologist, describing the safety of a product, and includes a detailed discussion of possible risks. The Toxicology Group also offers clients assistance with the development of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and other information required for product labeling.