Abstract
The PRISM project aims to develop a robust and integrated Physiologically Based Kinetic (PBK) model to enhance Human Risk
Assessment (HRA) for per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). Given the growing concern over PFAS, also known as "forever
chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment and human body, the PRISM project addresses critical gaps in existing PBK
models for HRA. Traditional PBK models, which are developed on a compound-by-compound basis, are resource-intensive and have
limited scalability for assessing multiple chemicals.
PRISM seeks to overcome these limitations by creating an integrated/generalized PBK model that can simultaneously predict the
absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profiles of structurally similar PFAS.
The PRISM project is divided into three main work packages:
(1) Development of an integrated PBK model for multiple PFAS using toxicokinetic data from animal studies,
(2) Calibration and validation of the model using human biomonitoring PFAS data
(3) Application of the model to estimate environmental exposures and propose new toxicity reference values for PFAS currently lacking
established toxicity guidelines.
The integrated PRISM model will significantly reduce the need for individual models, minimize animal testing, and align with the European Chemicals Agency's initiatives to streamline risk assessments.
Through collaborations with leading institutions (URV, VITO, PARC project) and experts, the PRISM project will also emphasize the open science practices by sharing model codes and data, thus contributing to the broader scientific community's efforts to standardize,
characterize, and manage PFAS risks. The outcomes of PRISM are expected to advance the Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) frameworks and to offer practical tools for regulators and policymakers in environmental health sciences.
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