Quantitative structure-activity relationships as a tool to assess the comparative toxicity of organic chemicals.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships of toxicity are discussed as a means of assessing the value of the Microtox test which uses the light-emitting bacterium Vibrio fisheri (Photobacterium phosphoreum) as a replacement for toxicity testing in higher species. The Microtox test is found to be a good surrogate for testing in fish, for compounds acting by the narcosis mechanism. However, for reactive chemicals the Microtox test significantly underestimates the potential hazard. It should not therefore be used in isolation for such chemicals, but rather as part of a battery of tests.