QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY-RELATIONSHIPS AS A TOOL TO ASSESS THECOMPARATIVE TOXICITY OF ORGANIC-CHEMICALS

Quantitative structure-activity relationships of toxicity are discusse d as a means of assessing the value of the Microtox test which uses th e light-emitting bacterium Vibrio fisheri (Photobacterium phosphoreum) as a replacement for toxicity testing in higher species. The Microtox test is found to be a good surrogate for testing in fish, for compoun ds acting by the narcosis mechanism. However, for reactive chemicals t he Microtox test significantly underestimates the potential hazard. It should not therefore be used in isolation for such chemicals, but rat her as part of a battery of tests.