In Silico Frontiers Shaping the Next Generation of Transformation Product Prediction and Toxicological Assessment

The characterization of transformation products (TPs) is crucial for understanding chemical fate and potential environmental hazards. TPs form through (a)biotic processes and can be detected in environmental concentrations comparable to or even exceeding their parent compounds, indicating toxicological relevance. However, identifying them is challenging due to the complexity of transformation processes and insufficient data. In silico methods for predicting TP formation and toxicity are efficient and support prioritization for chemical risk assessment, yet require sufficient data for improved results. This perspective article explores the role of computational approaches in assessing TPs and their potential effects, including rule-based models, machine learning-based methods, and QSAR-based toxicity predictions, focusing on openly available tools. While integrating these approaches into computational workflows can support regulatory decision-making and prioritization strategies, predictive models can face limitations related to applicability domains, data biases, and mechanistic uncertainties. To better communicate the results of in silico predictions, a framework of four distinct levels of confidence is proposed to support the integration of TP prediction and toxicity assessment into computational pipelines. This article highlights current advances, challenges, and future directions in applying in silico methodologies for TP evaluation, emphasizing the need for more data and expert interpretation to enhance model reliability and regulatory applicability.

This perspective highlights emerging in silico approaches for predicting transformation products and their toxicity, advancing environmental risk assessment methodologies.