Application of neurobehavioral toxicology methods to the military Deployment Toxicology Assessment Program

The military Tri-Service (Army, Navy & Marines, Air Force) Deployment Toxic ology Assessment Program (DTAP) represents a 30-year (1996-2026) planning e ffort to implement comprehensive systems for the protection of internationa lly deployed troops against toxicant exposures. A major objective of DTAP i s the implementation of a global surveillance system to identify chemicals with the potential to reduce human performance capacity. Implementation req uires prior development of complex human risk assessment models, known coll ectively as the Neurobehavioral Toxicity Evaluation instrument (NTEI), base d on mathematical interpolation of results from tissue-based and in vivo an imal studies validated by human performance assessment research. The Neurob ehavioral Toxicity Assessment Group (NTAC) at the Naval Health Research Cen ter Detachment-Toxicology (NHRC-TD), Dayton, OH, and associated academic in stitutions are developing and cross-validating cellular-level (NTAS), labor atory small animal (NTAB), nonhuman primate (GASP), and human-based (GASH) toxicity assessment batteries. These batteries will be utilized to develop and evaluate mathematical predictors of human neurobehavioral toxicity, as a function of laboratory performance deficits predicted by quantitative str uctural analysis relationship (QSAR-like) properties of potential toxicants identified by international surveillance systems. Finally, physiologically -based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) and pharmacodynamic (PBPD) modeling of NTAS, NTAB, GASP, GASH data will support multi-organizational development and val idation of the NTEI. The validated NTEI tool will represent a complex datab ase management system, integrating global satellite surveillance input to p rovide real-time decision-making support for deployed military personnel.