Tox-Box: securing drops of life - an enhanced
health-related approach for risk assessment of
drinking water in Germany
Tox-Box: Die Tropfen des Lebens
bewahren - Gesundheitsbasierte Risikobewertung
für Trinkwasser in Deutschland
This article introduces ‘Tox-Box’, a joint research project designed to develop a holistic approach towards a
harmonized testing strategy for exposure- and hazard-based risk management of anthropogenic trace substances in
drinking water to secure a long-term drinking water supply. The main task of the Tox-Box consortium is to enhance
the existing health-related indicator value concept (German: GOW-Konzept - Gesundheitlicher Orientierungswert)
through development and prioritization of additional end point-related testing strategies for genotoxicity,
neurotoxicity, germ cell damage, and endocrine effects. In this context, substance-specific modes of action will be
identified and characterized. Toxicological data collected by the 12 Tox-Box subprojects will be evaluated and
weighted to structure a hierarchical testing strategy for an improved risk assessment. A technical guidance
document for exposure and hazard-based risk management of anthropogenic trace substances in drinking water
will eventually be prepared