About the Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division
On This Page:
What We Do
Our Research
Management
Branches
Main Office Location
What We Do
The Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division (CCED) performs research to develop and advance experimental chemistry approaches that are critical to the rapid characterization of the presence, structural characteristics, and properties of chemicals that are of interest to EPA scientists due to their potential environmental fate and toxicity. In addition to chemical characterization, CCED develops computational models to predict external exposure and internal doses for large numbers of chemicals based on minimal data.
CCED strives to reduce the time to conduct toxicity and exposure assessments from years to months by developing:
- Chemoinformatic tools and knowledgebases
- Rapid analytical methods for identifying environmental chemicals in environmental and biological samples
- Predictive models of both exposure and dose for environmental chemicals
- Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion approaches for environmental chemicals and model parameterization
Our Research
- Exposure Forecasting
- Generalized Read-Across
- Cheminformatics Module
- In Vitro-In Vivo Extrapolation (IVIVE)
- httk R Package
- Non-Targeted Analysis
- CompTox Chemicals Dashboard
- Chemical Exposure Knowledgebase
- DSSTox
- Toxicity Estimation Software Tool
- Adverse Outcome Pathway
- PFAS Tiered Testing Research
- EPA Transcriptomic Assessment Product (ETAP)
Management
Mike DeVito, Director
- Email: devito.michael@epa.gov
Ardra Morgan, Associate Director
- Email: morgan.ardra@epa.gov
Branches
- Advanced Analytical Chemistry Methods Branch (AACMB): Elin Ulrich, Branch Chief
AACMB advances and develops novel methods to rapidly characterize chemical occurrence in various physical, biological, and environmental matrices. Methods such as non-targeted analysis (NTA) and suspect screening analysis (SSA) are utilized for substance identification and quantification. Data generated from advanced analytical chemistry methods supports high-throughput exposure model development, expands the domain of model applicability, reduces uncertainty in model predictions, and provides screening level information about chemical specimens, environmental and biological samples to support Agency, Regional, state, and local partners. - Computational Chemistry and Cheminformatics Branch (CCCB): Dan Chang, Branch Chief
CCCB develops and advances a comprehensive chemical knowledgebase by using cheminformatic approaches to consolidate chemical data resources (chemical structures, properties, feature sets, activities) and computational chemistry methods to relate chemical structures and properties to human and ecological toxicity, environmental fate and transport, chemical use, exposure, and toxicokinetic properties. - Computational Exposure and Toxicokinetics Branch (CETB): Peter Egeghy, Branch Chief
CETB uses data science approaches to mine, analyze, and integrate information on chemical use - from manufacturing operations through formulation science – with behavioral patterns and biomonitoring data to identify and assess potential exposure pathways and provide screening-level estimates of exposure. CETB also develops toxicokinetic models for predicting internal exposure and disposition to efficiently address intake of data-poor chemicals and appropriately translate bioactivity assessed using in vitro test systems. The “fit for purpose” exposure and toxicokinetic models span various populations, including: the general population, workers, highly exposed or susceptible population groups, and specific lifestages (e.g., children). - Experimental Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics Branch (ETTB): Mike Hughes, Branch Chief
ETTB develops and utilizes in vitro and in vivo models to more rapidly characterize the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of chemicals. ETTB develops and applies experimental in vitro methods and in vivo models to measure the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of chemicals. ETTB works with the AACMB for the analysis of parent and metabolites in complex biological media. ETTB works with CETB to parameterize compartmental and physiologically-based toxicokinetic models that simulate chemicals in humans and animal models. ETTB also develops and uses short-term in vivo models (e.g., 5-day oral repeat dose transcriptomic studies) coupled with state-of-the-art measurement technologies to qualitatively identify potential hazards and quantitatively predict effect levels. ETTB collects experimental data to validate in vitro assays and computational models developed by CCTE’s Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division (BCTD) and CETB. ETTB works with CCTE’s Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division (SCDCD) to publicly release toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic data, and models through online tools and dashboards.