This is a brief description of studies that exemplify the methods and approaches that have been developed and used by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers in conducting integrated assessments. See the complete list of Integrated Assessment Briefs to find out more about ORNL's efforts in integrated assessment. Contact Mike Farrell (farrellmp@ornl.gov) for more information.

Computerized Rapid Screening of Hazard


Hazardous chemicals: Finding the right neighborhood.

Is there a more rapid method for identifying the seriously hazardous chemicals out of the tens of thousands of industrial chemicals than the current expert-committee process?

In 1983, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in support of the DOE synthetic fuels development program, was charged to "justify the need to monitor specific unregulated substances and to provide threshold values above which these substances must be monitored." In response, the Rapid Screening of Hazard (RASH) method was developed as a chemical scoring system to be used by either the expert or the nonexpert in the absence of compound-specific guidance from regulatory agencies.

The method was based on the hypothesis that toxicity-induced compensatory cell proliferation can serve as a practical upper-limit index of carcinogenic promotion. This model has proven to be more accurate than predictions based on structure-activity relationships, individual screening bioassays, or combinations of bioassays and current artificial intelligence programs and only slightly less accurate than the individual time intensive predictions by two of the most respected experts in carcinogenic testing. The RASH method is currently being computerized.

Jones, T. D., P. J. Walsh, and E. A. Zeighami. 1985. Permissible concentrations of chemicals in air and water derived from RTECS entries: A RASH chemical scoring system. J. Toxicol. Ind. Hlth. 1(4):213-234.

Glass, L. R., T. D. Jones, C. E. Easterly, and P. J. Walsh. 1991. Use of short-term test systems for the prediction of the hazard represented by potential chemical carcinogens. Environmental Auditor 3(2):103-169.

Jones, T. D. and C. E. Easterly. 1991. On the rodent bioassays currently being conducted on 44 chemicals: A RASH analysis to predict test results from the National Toxicology Program. Mutagenesis 6(6):507-514.

Easterly, C. E., T. D. Jones, L. R. Glass, B. A. Owen, and P. J. Walsh. 1993. Biotesting waste water for hazard evaluation. Water Research 27(7):1145-1152.


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Integrated Assessment Briefs. 1995. ORNL/M-4227. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN.