EPA revises tool that gauges chemicals’ potential to cause cancer

Washington — Updates to an Environmental Protection Agency tool that can be used to analyze chemicals and predict whether they have carcinogenic effects are geared toward “expanding the tool’s usability.”

In December, the agency unveiled revisions to the OncoLogic tool, including:

• A streamlined interface that’s “much easier for nonexperts to navigate”
• A standardized reporting format with results for quick export and review
• Increased transparency of the science behind model predictions

Additionally, EPA, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, created a plug-in that’s compatible with an OECD toolbox that allows for analyzing multiple chemicals at once, among other features.

EPA notes that OncoLogic can evaluate more than 50 classes of organic chemicals, along with fibers, metals and polymers. The agency advises users to know various characteristics of the chemical of interest, such as structure, physical/chemical properties and possible exposure routes, before input.