The overall aim of QTOX is the development of quantitative extrapolation tools based on mechanistic knowledge of the underlying processes in the chain from exposure to effects, across all levels of biological organisation, with a close connection to regulatory endpoints, and under environmentally realistic conditions, i.e., including the dynamics of chronic exposures to mixtures of chemicals. The aim is to develop predictive models for describing the adverse effects of chemicals under realistic long-term exposure scenarios based on systematic knowledge acquired under laboratory and semi-field conditions.
QTOX will focus on mesocosm studies and test the predictive capability of models on all levels of chemical and biological organisation within a biological community context: the wealth of chemical and biological data from mesocosm experiments provides mechanistic information for the development, evaluation and validation of model predictions.