QSAR Studies

NMR and QSAR Studies in Environmental Toxicology and Metabolism of Pesticides
A major new programme of research (with further grants pending) for the study of the absorption, metabolism and toxicity of model pesticides in environmental systems. In these studies soil biodegradation, metabolism and toxicity of congeneric series of model aromatic pollutants are being studied in relation to their molecular physico-chemical properties.

Both invertebrate and vertebrate systems will be studied and transfer routes through the environment will be followed and modelled. The long term aims of this work are to provide a new predictive approach to the assessment of toxicity of novel agrochemicals, for understanding the mechanistic basis of their toxicity and for aiding the interpretation of standard regulatory tests for pollution control.

This work will be expanded further over the next two years and further integrated with the existing pharmaceutical chemistry, drug metabolism and toxicology research areas.