Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Environmental Topics
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Report a Violation
  • About EPA
Risk Assessment
Contact Us

Potential For Incorporation Of Genetic Polymorphism Data In Human Health Risk Assessment

On this page:

  • Overview
  • History
  • Downloads
This overview summarizes several EPA assessment publications evaluating the potential impact of genetic polymorphisms in ten metabolizing enzymes on the variability in enzyme function across ethnically diverse populations.
The toxicity of chemicals entering the body is governed by many factors. An individual’s ability to metabolize the chemical is of prime importance. In some cases, this metabolism increases chemical toxicity. In other cases, this metabolism can lead to chemical detoxification and excretion. An individual’s ability to metabolize environmental chemicals is influenced by their genetic makeup, as well as other factors. Numerous genetic variants (polymorphisms) have been identified in the enzymes that control metabolism. Study of the influence of these genetic polymorphisms on an individual’s chemical metabolism can aid in understanding how, and by how much, metabolism may vary in a diverse population. Together with information on polymorphism frequency, this information may be used to develop population distributions of chemical metabolism.

The work presented in this series of papers focuses on the contribution of genetic polymorphisms to the variability in host metabolism and defense mechanisms by evaluating polymorphisms in 10 enzyme systems including three Phase I metabolic enzymes (CYP2E1, CYP2D6, PON1), four Phase II metabolic enzymes (SULTs, UGTs, GSTs, NATs), and three detoxification enzymes (ALDH2, EH, NQO1). Most of these enzymes have influential polymorphisms that are of sufficient frequency in the population to create a large degree of variability in enzyme activity. Monte Carlo simulation of five of these enzymes (CYP2D6, GSTs, NATs, PON1, and ALDH2) indicates that substantial percentages of the population are more than 3.2 fold different than the median enzyme activity seen in the general population. This indicates that for these, and likely other enzymes identified in this series of papers, the conversion of genotypic information into enzyme variability distributions may provide useful input into modeling internal dose (with physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling, PBPK modeling) using Monte Carlo analyses approaches that better capture human variability in internal dose and risk. The population distributions developed in this project may be used in such PBPK modeling efforts.

Impact/Purpose

The work presented in this series of papers focuses on the contribution of genetic polymorphisms to the variability in host metabolism and defense mechanisms by evaluating polymorphisms in 10 enzyme systems including three Phase I metabolic enzymes (CYP2E1, CYP2D6, PON1), four Phase II metabolic enzymes (SULTs, UGTs, GSTs, NATs), and three detoxification enzymes (ALDH2, EH, NQO1).

Citation

U.S. EPA. Potential For Incorporation Of Genetic Polymorphism Data In Human Health Risk Assessment. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2010.

History/Chronology

Date Description
01- 2002-2010 Project results are published in peer-reviewed journals.
02- Sep 2010 EPA releases this summary report.

Download(s)

This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

  • Potential for Incorporation of Genetic Polymorphism Data (Summary Report) (PDF)  (7  pp, 60.5 KB, about PDF)
  • Ginsberg G; Smolenski S; Hattis D; Sonawane B (2002). Population distribution of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 genetic polymorphism: Implications for risk assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 36: 297-309.
  • Ginsberg G; et al (2009a). The influence of genetic polymorphisms on population variability in six xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 12: 307-333.
  • Ginsberg G; et al (2009b). Genetic polymorphism in glutathione transferases (GST): Population distribution of GSTM1, T1, and P1 conjugating activity. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 12: 389-439.
  • Ginsberg G; et al (2009c). Genetic polymorphism in paraoxonase 1 (PON1): Population distribution of PON1 activity. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 12: 473-507.
  • Ginsberg G; et al (2010). Genetic polymorphism in metabolism and host defense enzymes: implications for human health risk assessment. Crit Rev Toxicol, 40(7):575-619.
  • Neafsey P; Ginsberg G; Hattis D; Sonawane B (2009a). Genetic polymorphism in cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6): Population distribution of CYP2D6 activity. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 12: 334-361.
  • Neafsey P; Ginsberg G; Hattis D; Johns DO; Guyton KZ; Sonawane B (2009b). Genetic polymorphism in CYP2E1: Population distribution of CYP2E1 activity. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev, 12: 362-388.
  • Walker K; et al (2009). Genetic polymorphism in N-acetyltransferase (NAT): population distribution of NAT1 and NAT2 activity. J Toxicol Environ Health, 12(5-6):440-72.

Related Link(s)

  • Perspectives On The Application Of Mechanistic Information In Chemical Hazard And Dose-Response Assessments
  • Risk Assessment Home
  • About Risk Assessment
  • Risk Recent Additions
  • Human Health Risk Assessment
  • Ecological Risk Assessment
  • Risk Advanced Search
    • Risk Publications
  • Risk Assessment Guidance
  • Risk Tools and Databases
  • Superfund Risk Assessment
  • Where you live
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on October 14, 2010
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshots
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.